A Victorian Colored Mezzotint Of An Undergraduate And His Love c.1860 #2

~ A Victorian Colored Mezzotint Of An Undergraduate And His Love c.1860 #2 ~

This picture depicts a man in graduation uniform holding a book in one hand and looking at his love. She is wearing long white dress and purple shawl, holding an umbrella in one hand and a dog on a leash in the other.

~ Mezzotint ~

Mezzotint is a printmaking process of the intaglio family, technically a drypoint method. It was the first tonal method to be used, enabling half-tones to be produced without using line- or dot-based techniques like hatching, cross-hatching or stipple. Mezzotint achieves tonality by roughening the plate with thousands of little dots made by a metal tool with small teeth, called a “rocker.” In printing, the tiny pits in the plate hold the ink when the face of the plate is wiped clean. A high level of quality and richness in the print can be achieved.

~ Dimensions ~

The frame is 17 inches (43cm) tall by 13.5 inches (34.5cm) wide.
The picture is 14 inches (34.5cm) tall by 10.25 inches (26cm) wide.

~ Condition ~

The condition of the piece is very good apart from minor age wear to the frame.

#1407