Mezzotints
Mezzotint is an engraving technique that originated in the 17th Century and is the oldest way to achieve tones in printmaking. The artist works directly on a copper plate – beginning with a tool called a “rocker” which he uses to create pits in the plate. This is done by rocking the tool back and forth with consistent pressure until the whole surface is evenly pitted. If the plate were inked and a print pulled at this point the image would come through as a solid, velvety black. The artist then uses burnishing tools to smooth out the pits wherever he wants light in the images. The burnished areas will hold less ink than the deeply pitted areas. Once the plate is prepared, the plate is inked, excess ink is wiped away and it is pulled through a press with damp paper to create the finished print.
Artist: Pierre Vaquez, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 25
Year: 2025
Image Size: 5 3/4" x 7 3/4"
Description:
La nuit à la campagne (Night in the Countryside) is a mezzotint by Pierre Vaquez. An alien spaceship is perched over a village at night. Edition number 1
Artist: Mikio Watanabe, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 90
Year: 2024
Image Size: 4 3/4" x 9 1/8"
Description:
Mezzotint Engraving 2024 Image size: 4 3/4" x 9 1/8" Certain territoire (Certain Territory) is a mezzotint of a spider and lacey leaves. Edition number 31
Artist: Mikio Watanabe, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 90
Year: 2016
Image Size: 5" x 3"
A hedgehog and a chestnut share a number of similarities, especially when the hedgehog is having a nap! Edition number V
Artist: Mikio Watanabe, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 60
Year: 2015
Image Size: 5" x 8"
Description:
Mezzotint Engraving by Mikio Watanabe of a frog contemplating a persimmon on a tree. Edition number 19
Artist: Mikio Watanabe, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 100
Year: 2026
Image Size: 4" x 6 1/8"
Description:
Souffle blanc (White Breath) is a mezzotint engraving by Mikio Watanabe
Artist: Mikio Watanabe, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 80
Year: 2026
Image Size: 12 1/8" x 6 1/8"
Description:
Entre brise et lumiere (Between Breeze and Light) is a mezzotint engraving by Mikio Watanabe
Artist: Pierre Vaquez, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 27
Image Size: 3 3/8" x 3 3/8"
Description:
Monstre en tube (Monster in a Tube) is a mezzotint by Pierre Vaquez. Squeeze this tube and monsters come out. don’t mistake it for your toothpaste! This original mezzotint is matted to 8” x 10” with acid-free eggshell board to compliment Pierre’s paper color. Edition number 4
Artist: Pierre Vaquez, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 29
Image Size: 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Description:
Chaton mignon (Cute Kitten) is a mezzotint by Pierre Vaquez. A cute kitten, sure - but with a LOT of sharp teeth! This original mezzotint is matted to 8” x 10” with acid-free eggshell board to compliment Pierre’s paper color. Edition number 9
Artist: Pierre Vaquez, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 27
Image Size: 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Description:
Poisson et Ceropegia (Fish and Ceropegia) is a mezzotint by Pierre Vaquez. A fish in a bowl is staring at a googly-eyed, viny plant with heart-shaped leaves. This original mezzotint is matted to 8” x 10” with acid-free eggshell board to compliment Pierre’s paper color. Edition number 9
Artist: Pierre Vaquez, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 27
Image Size: 3 3/8" x 3 3/8"
Description:
Chat et Palmier (Cat and Palm Tree) is a mezzotint by Pierre Vaquez. A black cat gazes curiously at a startled, googly-eyed Palm Tree. This original mezzotint is matted to 8” x 10” with acid-free eggshell board to compliment Pierre’s paper color. Edition number 6
Artist: Pierre Vaquez, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 25
Image Size: 3 3/8" x 3 3/8"
Description:
Tortue et Ficus (Turtle and Ficus) is a mezzotint by Pierre Vaquez. A turtle and a googly-eyed ficus are having a moment. This original mezzotint is matted to 8” x 10” with acid-free eggshell board to compliment Pierre’s paper color. Edition number 6
Artist: Pierre Vaquez, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 25
Year: 2026
Image Size: 10 1/2" x 6 7/8"
Description:
Au bout du monde (At the Edge of the World) is a mezzotint by Pierre Vaquez. A woman appears to be communing with a cat while sitting at the edge of the world. A waterfall disappears off into the darkness. Edition number 6
Artist: Pierre Vaquez, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 25
Year: 2026
Image Size: 10 1/2" x 14"
Description:
Rendez-vous dans la grotte (Meeting in the Grotto) is a mezzotint by Pierre Vaquez. A woman meets up with a sea-dragon in a beautifully detailed grotto. Edition number 1
Artist: Pierre Vaquez, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 25
Year: 2026
Image Size: 11" x 14 3/4"
Description:
Toccata et fugue is a mezzotint by Pierre Vaquez. A creature is playing an elaborate, fanciful organ. Edition number 4
Artist: Pierre Vaquez, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 25
Year: 2026
Image Size: 7 3/4" x 11 5/8"
Description:
La creation du monde (The creation of the World) is a mezzotint by Pierre Vaquez. A woman is creating the universe, one element at a time. Edition number 5
Artist: Pierre Vaquez, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 25
Year: 2026
Image Size: 7" x 10 1/2"
Description:
The Nest is a mezzotint by Pierre Vaquez. A jazz club called The Nest with a long-armed robot in front of it. Edition number 5
Artist: Pierre Vaquez, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 25
Year: 2026
Image Size: 5 3/4" x 5 3/4"
Description:
La vie mechanique (The Mechanical Life) is a mezzotint by Pierre Vaquez. This one needs a lot of light to appreciate it properly. A robot human walks his robot dog on a dark night, and they encounter a robot cat perched on a trash can. Edition number 6
Artist: Pierre Vaquez, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 25
Year: 2026
Image Size: 5 3/4" x 5 3/4"
Description:
Premier cafe (First Coffee) is a mezzotint by Pierre Vaquez. It’s possible this coffee is a little strong! An inviting cup of coffee casts a monster shadow. Edition number 6
Artist: Pierre Vaquez, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 25
Year: 2026
Image Size: 5 3/4" x 5 3/4"
Description:
Vol de nuit (Night Flight) is a mezzotint by Pierre Vaquez. This giant moth has intentions…good or bad? Edition number 3
Artist: Pierre Vaquez, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 25
Year: 2026
Image Size: 5 3/4" x 7 3/4"
Description:
Vers le sud (Towards the south) is a mezzotint by Pierre Vaquez. Even snowmen need a vacation once in a while - these appear to be flying south for the summer? Edition number 7
Artist: Pierre Vaquez, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 25
Year: 2026
Image Size: 5 3/4" x 5 3/4"
Description:
Vinylady is a mezzotint by Pierre Vaquez. Are you still a vinyl enthusiast? How about this hat? Edition number 7
Artist: Pierre Vaquez, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 25
Year: 2026
Image Size: 5 3/4" x 7 3/4"
Description:
Autoportrait N°455 (Self Portrait #455) is a mezzotint by Pierre Vaquez This stylish woman is posing with her pet “Let’s try this again - now hold still!” Edition number 8
Artist: Michel Estèbe, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 60
Year: 2024
Image Size: 5 1/2” x 6 1/4”
Description:
Lapin is a mezzotint by Michel Estebe. A chubby rabbit looks out from a black mezzotint background. Edition number 8
Artist: Michel Estèbe, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 30
Year: 2024
Image Size: 9” x 8”
Description:
Kingfisher II, first state is a mezzotint by Michel Estebe. A kingfisher in flight with a rich, black mezzotint background. After pulling the prints for this edition, the artist continued burnishing the plate to make Kingfisher II, #2. Edition number 4
Artist: Michel Estèbe, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 60
Year: 2026
Image Size: 9” x 8”
Description:
Kingfisher II, #2 is a mezzotint by Michel Estebe. A brightly colored kingfisher in flight with an intricately detailed black and white landscape background. This print was made after Kingfisher II, 1st state by burnishing the black mezzotint background into the landscape you see in this image. Edition number 11
Artist: Michel Estèbe, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 60
Year: 2026
Image Size: 8 3/4” x 6 3/4”
Description:
Coloquinte (Gourd) is a mezzotint by Michel Estebe. A diverse collection of objects, including tops, a strawberry and a cherry flank this colorful gourd. Edition number 6
Artist: Michel Estèbe, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 60
Year: 2026
Image Size: 5” x 6 3/4”
Description:
Canard is a mezzotint by Michel Estebe. Only the duck’s colorful head and webbed feet emerge from the black mezzotint background. Edition number 10
Artist: Michel Estèbe, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 60
Year: 2026
Image Size: 3 3/4” x 4”
Description:
Coquelicot is a mezzotint by Michel Estebe. A vibrant, red poppy bursts out of its rich, black mezzotint background. Edition number 5
Artist: Judith Rothchild, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 30
Image Size: 7 1/2" x 9 1/2"
Description:
Les nids (The Nests) is a mezzotint engraving printed from an oval plate by Judith Rothchild. Two nests amongst twigs and leaves. Edition number 3
Artist: Pierre Vaquez, FRANCE
Media: Mezzotint
Edition: 27
Image Size: 2 1/4" x 3 3/8"
Description:
Olga is a mezzotint by Pierre Vaquez of a bird-woman with long blond hair. This original mezzotint is matted to 8” x 10” with acid-free eggshell board to compliment Pierre’s paper color. Edition number 5