In Print 1650

In print 1650 is an exhibition taking place at the Geloong Gallery that brings together mezzotint prints, books with mezzotint illustrations, and other works on paper from the permanent collection that span the medium’s predominantly Northern European origins through its worldwide use in the 20th century. Mezzotint is also known as the black manner, this name has been used for four centuries to refer to a process that originated in 1650 as a way to add tonal range to the etchings of the time. Mezzotint matured into a full fledged printmaking method over the next 50 years. Four hundred years later this technique, involving only hand tools, is gaining in popularity again.