Here is a bit of Photogravure history.
Note* I will be working on a modern form of the process. It would be fun to try using original copper plates someday!
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Photogravure was invented in stages. The earliest iteration was developed by Nicéphore Niépce in 1826. However, the mature, high-quality intaglio process still used by artists today was perfected and introduced in 1879 by the Czech painter Karel Klíč.
Key Milestones in the Invention
- 1826 (Niépce): Niépce created the very first photogravure, known as héliogravure, using light-sensitive bitumen of Judea on a pewter plate.
- 1852–1858 (Talbot): British inventor William Henry Fox Talbot (creator of the calotype) patented "photographic engraving," experimenting with dichromated gelatin and resin dust to transfer photographs onto steel and copper plates.
- 1879 (Klíč): Klíč successfully refined Talbot's process by combining it with Joseph Wilson Swan'scarbon tissue method. This allowed for the detailed mechanical translation of continuous photographic tones and birthed the modern Talbot-Klíč process.
How It Works
Photogravure is a photomechanical intaglio process.
- A photographic positive is exposed onto light-sensitive gelatin paper.
- This gelatin "carbon tissue" is transferred onto a polished copper plate coated with a fine resin dust (aquatint).
- The plate is etched with acid. The acid eats away at the copper in varying depths based on the tones of the image.
- The copper plate is inked, wiped clean, and run through a specialized press to transfer the rich, velvety, continuous-tone image onto fine art paper.
Legacy
While commercial photogravure gave way to cheaper halftone printing methods in the mid-20th century, it remains the most luxurious means of reproducing photographic images in ink. It is still practiced today by dedicated printmakers to capture extreme depth, velvety shadows, and transparent midtones that modern inkjet printers struggle to replicate.”