aquatint: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Rare / SpecializedFormal, Academic, Artistic
Quick answer
What does “aquatint” mean?
A printmaking technique in which tone is created by etching a metal plate through a porous ground, producing effects resembling watercolour or wash drawings.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A printmaking technique in which tone is created by etching a metal plate through a porous ground, producing effects resembling watercolour or wash drawings.
A print or image produced by the aquatint process; by extension, can describe a similar tonal effect in other media.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally specialized in both varieties.
Connotations
Associated with traditional printmaking, craftsmanship, and a specific period (18th-19th century) of artistic production.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language, confined to art history, printmaking studios, and museum contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “aquatint” in a Sentence
to produce/execute/work in aquatintan aquatint of [subject]to combine etching and aquatintVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “aquatint” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The museum acquired a remarkable aquatint by Thomas Rowlandson.
- She specialises in the technically demanding process of aquatint.
American English
- This aquatint showcases subtle gradations of gray impossible in line etching.
- The artist's early work includes several aquatints of New York harbour.
verb
British English
- The plate was first etched for the lines and then aquatinted to add shadow.
- He learned how to aquatint at the Royal College of Art.
American English
- After drawing the outlines, she aquatinted the background to create a misty effect.
- The workshop teaches how to aquatint using modern acrylic grounds.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in art history papers, descriptions of print collections, and technical manuals.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely to be encountered.
Technical
The primary context. Used precisely to describe materials (rosin ground), process (stopping out, biting), and results.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “aquatint”
- Using 'aquatint' to refer to any etching. Mispronouncing as /ˌæk.wəˈtaɪnt/. Using it as a general term for a watercolour painting.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Etching primarily creates lines. Aquatint is a type of etching process used specifically to create tonal areas. They are often used together on the same plate.
Yes. While traditionally monochrome (often sepia or black), colour can be applied to the plate or added by hand after printing.
Notable artists include Francisco Goya (Spanish), Thomas Gainsborough (British), and Mary Cassatt (American). It was particularly popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
The name derives from the Italian 'acqua tinta' meaning 'coloured water' or 'tinted water', referring to the watercolour-like appearance of the prints it produces.
A printmaking technique in which tone is created by etching a metal plate through a porous ground, producing effects resembling watercolour or wash drawings.
Aquatint is usually formal, academic, artistic in register.
Aquatint: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæk.wə.tɪnt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɑː.kwə.tɪnt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'AQUA' (water) + 'TINT' (colour/shade) = a printmaking technique that creates watery, shaded tones.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRINTMAKING IS PAINTING WITH ACID. The plate is 'bitten' to create 'washes' of tone.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of the aquatint technique in printmaking?