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Why is an acid-resistant ground used in etching?
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Printmaking
Woman Bathing, color aquatint with drypoint by Mary Cassatt, 1890â91; in the Art Institute of Chicago.
In etching, an acid-resistant ground is used to protect the metal plate from the corrosive action of the acid, except in the areas where the artist has drawn their design.1
By applying this coatingâtypically composed of wax, asphaltum, and resinâthe printmaker can selectively expose the metal by scratching through the ground with a needle or other tools. When the plate is subsequently submerged in an acid bath, the acid "bites" into the exposed lines while the remaining ground prevents the acid from affecting the rest of the surface. This process allows for the creation of intricate, controlled designs that are later inked and printed.1