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Mezzotint Definition

The mezzotint process involves roughening a copper plate all over with a fine toothed tool known as a mezzotint rocker. The surface of the plate in this state resembles myriad numbers of tiny pitchmarks. If inked and printed in this state the result would be a rich velvety black. The desired image is created by smoothing (burnishing) areas to produce lighter tones. When burnished smooth, no ink is retained and then that area prints white. The process is unusual in art as the image is white on a black background. As a copper plate (rather than a harder metal such as steel) was used, the relative softness of copper resulted in a successful first print run of probably only fifty or so. When the copper plate wore smoother it was often reworked. By comparison with a strong original print reworking is easily determined. Sometimes the artist would engrave the word PROOF in the margin in order to attract sales of the later run, with the original run being approximately fifty probably no more than ten to twelve original prints are now thought to be extant.