The Mezzotint

A comprehensive history and how-to treatise on mezzotint engraving, a printmaking technique known for creating lush tonal gradations and dramatic lighting effectsAward-winning mezzotint engraver Carol Wax traces the art form's beginnings in 1642, through its growth as a vital British industry for reproducing paintings, to its demise after the invention of photography and resurgence as a means of original expression. This newly revised edition explains various means for creating dark backgrounds on copper plates and rendering images reductively, or in the mezzotint manner.Copious illustrations accompany step-by-step technical instruction and include prints by practitioners at the forefront of the current mezzotint revival.Includes helpful information on • tools • inks • papers • printing techniques • using mezzotint with other mediums • related engraving and drypoint techniquesAdditional updates emphasize nontoxic materials and make this book useful to artists with diverse experiences and interests.