Drypoint

The drypoint is a graphical method of rotogravure a possible form of etching.

Basics

In drypoint the drawing is scratched by using force, combined with a wood or steel needle of an existing solid steel, slightly heavier etching needle directly into the pressure plate ( cold working of the metal). This causes a greater pressure of the needle and a thicker line. The weight of the massive etching needle facilitates somewhat the character work that is connected with effort because of the metal resistance. On both sides of the grooves arises on the displaced material and forms a sharp ridge ( which is removed during etching as tension ). All surfaces consist of a concentration of many lines. It follows no etching. On the plate full surface printing ink is then applied and then blankgewischt again as in the etching. It is still necessary to adhere to the groove color in the fine line addition to the actual line. On the deduction then shows the line as increased color deposit, the ridge as a fine incision sometimes even stays white and one to the ridge followed samttonige shading, which represents the color that is adhesive remained when wiping the outer sides of the ridge. The resulting pictorial effect is the distinguishing feature with respect to the etched line etching.

To drypoint includes the processing of the plate by means of Mouletten and roulette. Ultra-fine lines and gray values ​​can be achieved with a set diamonds ..

The technique has high artistic value because it informs the subjective personality of the artist and its expression. It was first used around 1480, the house Buchmeister. Rembrandt drypoint combined with the Ätzradiertechnik and widened and linked in this way masterfully the tonal range of both printing techniques. In the 18th century, Jacques- Philippe Le Bas and his students led the connection of copper engraving technology and the revision with the drypoint technique to perfection. In the 20th century it was next to Edvard Munch, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Max Beckmann, especially Picasso, who created impressive works with this technique.

Features a drypoint

• The color is increased relief on the paper ( albeit by less than in the etched line )
• The Gratschatten that occurs adjacent to the ridge as a soft sound option. If the drypoint used in conjunction with a Ätzradierung or aquatint, the ridge is often no longer available.

In general, only a small number of good prints from the printing plate is possible with drypoint, as the ridge is increasingly squeezed by the pressure of the press and the fine tone shading gradually disappears. For the collector, it is therefore important to acquire a sheet with a low draw numbering.

Diamond drypoint

The Diamond drypoint (English: diamond- drypoint ) is a special technique of drypoint. It is executed with a single tool: an extremely sharp cut diamond, which was passed in a pen, engraved with the directly into the bare copper plate. The word " diamond drypoint " refers to both the tool and the order executed etching, which also includes a special printing technique belongs. The Diamond drypoint combines simultaneous possibilities of graphic and pictorial range of variation of the low pressure, which can only be achieved by combining different techniques and in separate steps otherwise.

10 Characteristic of the Diamond drypoint is the wealth of tonal gradations, subtle gray tones and saturated, velvety depths, as well as the changing transition from graphical abstract characters adhere to the Picturesque - visual, as well as the subtlety of the stroke, up to the limit of distinctness ( lines / mm, equivalent to 250 dpi or more). There is no tension lifted, as raised by the chisel when engraving and no rough jagged ridge, as with the steel tip of the classic drypoint. The diamond tip is pressing the soft copper uniformly to the side and does not get stuck in the plate. It transmits each pulse of the hand as a seismographic recording on the printing plate.

The pressure of the - usually verstahlten - copper plate is difficult because of the extreme fineness of the engraving. The printing ink is constructed in several steps, wherein the temperature of the plate and the viscosity of ink must be matched exactly. The pressure plate is allowed - as the Drypoint - a circulation of more than 30 prints. Verstahlte plates also allow for longer runs.