Introduction to the Show: Aquatint: From Its Origins to Goya

Description

Aquatint, a revolutionary printing process, grabbed the attention of artists and art-lovers across 18th-century Europe. The new technique allowed subtle washes of tone that brought depth and drama to images of all kinds?from erupting volcanoes and moonlit landscapes to biting caricatures and depictions of amorous lovers. Join Rena Hoisington, curator of old master prints at the National Gallery of Art, as she traces the rise of aquatint from its origins in 1700s Paris to Francisco Goya?s experimental 1799 series ?Los Caprichos.?