Lefranc Bourgeois Charbonnel Professional Etching Additive, Hard Ball Ground Solid

Charbonnel

THE REVIVAL OF PRINTMAKING

In 1862 Parisian chemist François Charbonnel embarked on a new adventure. Driven by a pioneering spirit and scientific expertise, Charbonnel opened a small shop on the banks of the Seine, filled with his own brand of fine art printing materials. There had been a spectacular revival of printmaking, triggered by the recent arrival of photography. Until this point, artworks had been reproduced by engraving print methods. However, artists were beginning to rediscover lithographic processes. They needed specialist supplies and Charbonnel's newly created grounds, inks and varnishes were waiting.

Designed for intaglio, etching and lithographic printmaking, they quickly famed artists including Pissarro, Renoir, Degas, Manet, Lautrec and Signac. Soon, the reputation of Charbonnel materials spread. Today Charbonnel is synonymous with unmatched quality.

WHAT IS METAL PLATE PRINTING?

There are many techniques for metal plate-based printmaking, also known as intaglio. First marks are made into a metal surface, which is then inked and wiped. This leaves colour sitting in the grooves ready to be transferred to your printing surface. The ink is transferred when pressed against a surface like paper, by passing it through a press. The two-principle metal plate printing techniques are engraving and etching. Engraving is when a tool is used to cut the lines of the image into the metal plate. Traditional engraving involves the use of a hand-held, chisel-style cutting tool called a burin. Drypoint engraving is similar but uses a sharp needle-like tool and is more free-form. Etching is when acid is used to corrode the printed areas on the metal plate.