Originals in this selection, Etching.
Formats from 15 x 10 to 40 x 30 cm.
Groove by groove
Etching writes into copper with needle and acid and transfers every line to paper under pressure. Anyone who wants to buy etchings for sale likes velvety black, fine lines, and the slightly raised character of intaglio.
Unlike relief printing, the ink sits in the depressions of the plate. Damp paper is pressed in at high pressure and draws the ink out, so the line stays slightly raised. This character cannot be copied. Looking closely, you can even see the direction in which the needle was drawn.
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From gray to deep black
With aquatint and dense hatching, soft tones are built. Photorealist and graphic etchings use this in different ways. A white mat leaves the plate mark visible, which belongs to an original. Dark mats are rare, because they swallow the fineness of the line.
Checking authenticity
Look for plate mark, pencil signature, and edition notation. Etchings with ink show especially deep blacks, and under 500 euro smaller plates are common. Ask for the impression number, as early impressions are usually finer.