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Don Swann Etching

Don Swann Original Etching Blackheads at Evening 53/300, Framed
Don Swann Original Etching Blackheads at Evening 53/300, Framed

Don Swann Original Etching Blackheads at Evening 53/300, Framed

Located in Clifton Springs, NY

It has its original black and gold frame; the frame has a minor loss on gold on left side, please refer to pictures. The etching is in very good vintage condition. Don Swann (1889-1...

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Drawings

Materials

Paper, Wood

Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins Hospital

Johns Hopkins Hospital

By Samuel Donovan Swann

Located in San Francisco, CA

This artwork is an etching on wove paper by Samuel Donovan aka Don Swann (American, 1889-1954) created circa 1940.

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Landscape Prints

Materials

Etching

Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins Hospital

Johns Hopkins Hospital

By Samuel Donovan Swann

Located in San Francisco, CA

This artwork is an etching on wove paper by Samuel Donovan aka Don Swann (American, 1889-1954) created circa 1940.

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Landscape Prints

Materials

Etching

Recent Sales

Single engine monoplane in flight
Single engine monoplane in flight

Single engine monoplane in flight

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Don Swann (1899-1954). Monoplane in flight. Etching, plate measures6 x 7.25 inches.

Category

1930s American Impressionist More Prints

Materials

Etching

Single engine monoplane in flight
Single engine monoplane in flight

Single engine monoplane in flight

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Don Swann (1899-1954). Monoplane in flight. Etching, plate measures6 x 7.25 inches.

Category

1930s American Impressionist More Prints

Materials

Etching

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Finding the Right Prints-works-on-paper for You

Decorating with fine art prints — whether they’re figurative prints, abstract prints or another variety — has always been a practical way of bringing a space to life as well as bringing works by an artist you love into your home.

Pursued in the 1960s and ’70s, largely by Pop artists drawn to its associations with mass production, advertising, packaging and seriality, as well as those challenging the primacy of the Abstract Expressionist brushstroke, printmaking was embraced in the 1980s by painters and conceptual artists ranging from David Salle and Elizabeth Murray to Adrian Piper and Sherrie Levine.

Printmaking is the transfer of an image from one surface to another. An artist takes a material like stone, metal, wood or wax, carves, incises, draws or otherwise marks it with an image, inks or paints it and then transfers the image to a piece of paper or other material.

Fine art prints are frequently confused with their more commercial counterparts. After all, our closest connection to the printed image is through mass-produced newspapers, magazines and books, and many people don’t realize that even though prints are editions, they start with an original image created by an artist with the intent of reproducing it in a small batch. Fine art prints are created in strictly limited editions — 20 or 30 or maybe 50 — and are always based on an image created specifically to be made into an edition.

Many people think of revered Dutch artist Rembrandt as a painter but may not know that he was a printmaker as well. His prints have been preserved in time along with the work of other celebrated printmakers such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol. These fine art prints are still highly sought after by collectors.

“It’s another tool in the artist’s toolbox, just like painting or sculpture or anything else that an artist uses in the service of mark making or expressing him- or herself,” says International Fine Print Dealers Association (IFPDA) vice president Betsy Senior, of New York’s Betsy Senior Fine Art, Inc.

Because artist’s editions tend to be more affordable and available than his or her unique works, they’re more accessible and can be a great opportunity to bring a variety of colors, textures and shapes into a space.

For tight corners, select small fine art prints as opposed to the oversized bold piece you’ll hang as a focal point in the dining area. But be careful not to choose something that is too big for your space. And feel free to lean into it if need be — not every work needs picture-hanging hooks. Leaning a larger fine art print against the wall behind a bookcase can add a stylish installation-type dynamic to your living room. (Read more about how to arrange wall art here.)

Find fine art prints for sale on 1stDibs today.

Questions About Don Swann Etching

  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019

    Etching is a method of making prints using metal plates onto which a design has been incised by acid.

  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Etched glass is a type of decorative glass which is the result of small cuts made to the glass. The cuts, which appear white, typically form patterns or images.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Vintage etching is a term that refers to a specific type of print produced between 50 and 100 years ago. Printmakers produced etchings by carving images into a copper plate and then soaking it in an acid bath. Then, they applied ink to the plate and pressed it against paper or another material to create an image. On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage etchings.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024
    An original etching is a print produced during the first production run of a print series. After making an etching plate, an artist will create a limited number of etchings. Collectively, these prints are the original etchings. They differ from restrike etchings made years later, sometimes after the death of the artist. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of etchings.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    An etching is created by cutting down a metal plate with chemicals, including acid, to achieve the desired image. The metal plate is then inked and pressed onto a piece of paper. Picasso became fascinated with etchings when he moved to Paris in the early 1900s, and would go on to pioneer new techniques with etchings throughout his career. Shop a selection of Pablo Picasso pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019

    There is dry and wet etching.

  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 26, 2024
    To identify an etching, look in the corners and on the back for an artist's signature or publisher information. Cross-referencing markings with information shared on trusted online resources can allow you to determine the artist. From there, you can browse online and print catalogues of their work to find out the title and date of the etching. In terms of how to tell an etching apart from other types of prints, one telltale sign is the appearance of slightly blurry lines along the edges. Called plate marks, these lines form from the pressure exerted by the plate during the etching process. You may need a magnifying glass to spot the plate mark on a print. If you have any difficulty with the identification process, consider enlisting the help of a certified appraiser or experienced art dealer. Shop a collection of etchings on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 26, 2024
    The difference between etching and aquatint is technique. Invented in the 1500s, etching is a way of incising lines in a metal plate by first drawing on an acid-resistant coating, or ground, to reveal the metal beneath. The plate is then submerged in acid, which “bites” the lines into the metal plate. The ground is then removed, and the plate is inked for pressing. Etched lines tend to reveal the movement of the artist’s hand more than a technique like engraving, since the image is created on softer ground. Aquatint, a technique named for its resemblance to watercolor or ink wash, is often combined with etching to create rich tonal variations. It’s a similar process to etching, but the resin ground is more granulated, so the acid handles the metal differently. Different degrees of darkness are created based on the amount of time the plate is in contact with the acid. Find a collection of etchings and aquatint prints on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 3, 2024
    The difference between a lithograph and an etching is that while both are types of prints, they are made using different techniques. With respect to lithography, the image to be printed is drawn or painted on a stone or metal plate with an oil-based substance, such as a greasy crayon or tusche (an oily wash). The stone is then covered with water, which is repelled by the oily areas. Oil-based ink is then applied to the wet stone, adhering only to the oily image. Afterward, the stone is covered with a sheet of paper and run through a press.

    Etching is a way of incising lines in a metal plate by first drawing on an acid-resistant coating, or ground, to reveal the metal beneath. The plate is then submerged in acid, which “bites” the lines into the metal plate. The ground is then removed and the plate is inked for pressing.

    Find a collection of lithographs for sale on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Rembrandt's etchings are important because of the influence they had on printmaking. The printing techniques that he employed allowed each of his prints to seem very unique while making it possible for him to mass produce his images. Printmakers that followed utilized the advancements he made in the field to create and distribute their own prints. Find a range of Rembrandt art on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 29, 2024
    To tell if an etching is original, first gently run your hand along its surface. An original etching will usually have a slight indentation in the image area left behind by the pressure applied by the plate during the printing process. Next, grab a magnifying glass and view the image up close. On an original, you won't see small dots making up the picture, but many reproductions do display dots due to their printing methods. Finally, look at the signature. Most original etchings will be hand-signed. If the signature is printed on your piece, it may be a reproduction. Consult a certified appraiser or experienced art dealer for an expert opinion on your print. Find a wide variety of etchings on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 24, 2024
    To tell a lithograph from an etching, look closely along the edges of the print. Etching is a way of incising lines on a metal plate by first drawing on an acid-resistant coating, or ground, to reveal the metal beneath. Lithography uses a stone rather than a plate. As a result, etchings will usually have a faint imprint or indentation called a plate mark, while a lithograph will not. Researching the artist using trusted online resources may also be helpful, as some printmakers worked exclusively with etchings or lithographs. Find a large selection of lithographs and etchings on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, Pablo Picasso made etchings and took that foundation into an exploration of printmaking and the different methods of that medium. Picasso first began working on etchings in the early 1900s, quickly mastering the technique, and then he began expanding and pushing the boundaries to create a unique and signature style. On 1stDibs, find a variety of original artwork from top artists.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, you can etch on the back of a mirror. Modern mirrors typically have a reflective layer that is deposited on the back of the glass. If you want to etch the back of a mirror you need to remove the reflective layer, which can be done with an engraving tool or with an etching solution. Shop a range of antique and modern mirrors on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 26, 2024
    The difference between an etching and a print depends on how specific the terms are. Print is a general term for any type of artwork made by transferring an image onto another material, such as paper or fabric. A specific printmaking technique, etching is a way of incising lines in a metal plate by first drawing on an acid-resistant coating, or ground, to reveal the metal beneath. The plate is then submerged in acid, which “bites” the lines into the metal plate. On 1stDibs, find a large selection of etchings and other prints.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 15, 2024
    To tell if an etching is valuable, one approach is to conduct research using trusted online resources. The maker, age, image quality, historical significance and overall condition all play a role in determining the potential value of an etching. By seeing how much similar etchings have sold for in the past, you can get a rough idea of how much your piece may be worth. However, experts generally recommend having a certified appraiser or experienced art dealer evaluate prints for a more accurate valuation. Find a wide range of etchings on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 30, 2024
    Yes, some original etchings are worth something. Original signed prints by Old Masters like Rembrandt and Albrecht Dürer are particularly valuable, as are those made by modern artists such as Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, Martin Lewis and David Hockney. Generally, the artist, age, historical significance, image quality and overall conditions of etchings all contribute to their value. To learn how much your etching may be worth, seek the opinion of a certified appraiser or experienced art dealer. Explore a large collection of etchings on 1stDibs.