Print Room: Image Maps of Printmaking Techniques

Bellange made extensive use of stippling to suggest the sensuous and supple characteristics of human flesh. This is achieved by lightly and repeatedly stabbing the grounded etching plate with an etching needle. After the plate is etched each of the little stabs will print as a small dot. The effect of hundreds of these dots is a subtle tonal passage. Bellange combined stippling and normal line etching. For a good example of his stippling click on the angel's elbow, or the Virgin's left hand or neck.