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Fine Arts · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

Intaglio Printmaking

Intaglio is the art of the incised line. This foundation course introduces the traditional techniques of etching and drypoint on copper or zinc plates. Students will learn to coat plates with grounds, draw through them, etch them in ferric chloride or saline sulphate, and print using the “wipe and polish” method. The focus is on line quality, texture, and the rich, embossed aesthetic unique to intaglio.

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Master Plate Preparation: Beveling, filing, and degreasing Copper/Zinc
  2. Execute "Hard Ground" Etching: Drawing fine lines
  3. Understand "Drypoint": Creating velvety burrs without acid
  4. Manage the Acid Bath: Timing the bite for line depth
  5. Print the Edition: Paper soaking, Inking, Wiping (Tarlatan), and Press pressure
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01History of Intaglio: Dürer to Rembrandt
  2. 02Plate Prep: Filing & Polishing
  3. 03Hard Ground Application: Smoking the plate
  4. 04Drawing Needles & Line Variation
  5. 05The Acid Bath: Ferric Chloride Safety
  6. 06Drypoint: The Direct Line
  7. 07Inking & Wiping: The Tarlatan technique
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09Soft Ground: Texture & Impression
  10. 10Aquatint Basics: Adding Tone
  11. 11Open Bite: Abstract shapes
  12. 12Scraping & Burnishing: Correcting mistakes
  13. 13Paper Prep: Soaking & Blotting
  14. 14Printing: The Press Blanket setup
  15. 15Curating: Flattening & Signing
  16. 16Final Project: The Edition of 10 Prints

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: The Edition of 10 Prints

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. The Complete Etching Handbook by John Ross
  2. Intaglio: Acrylic-Resist Etching, Collagraphy, Engraving, Drypoint, Mezzotint by Robert Adam
  3. Printmaking: A Complete Guide to Materials & Processes by Bill Fick
  4. Etching and Engraving: Techniques and the Modern Trend by John Buckland Wright
  5. Magical Secrets about Line Etching by Catherine Brooks
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