Description
Photogravure, which dates back to the 1830's, is one of the earliest methods of making a permanent photographic print. The process is attributed to both Henry Fox Talbot and Nicephore Niepce. Traditional Photogravure involves an intaglio printing process, a plate of copper or other metal with the engraved image is inked, wiped and then printed with an etching press. The process produces a very high quality, rich, continuous tone print of a photographic positive. Some famous examples of traditional Photogravures are the Paul Strand Mexican Set , the Edward S. Curtis Native American Series, and the Alfred Stieglitz gravures in Camera Work. Photopolymer Gravure is an intaglio printing process very similar to traditional Photogravure, except the plate, rather than being etched copper, is a stainless steel backed film of photopolymer which is exposed to a positive with UV light and developed in water. The Photopolymer Gravure process, when done with a double exposure method, where the plate is first exposed to an aquatint screen and then to the photographic positive, can rival the traditional method appearance and quality. As with traditional Photogravure, this method produces a continuous tone print with depth and varying thicknesses of ink. The Art Of The Gravure Group Show exhibit includes wonderful examples of both Photogravures and Photopolymer Gravures from leading contemporary Photographers.
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