Technique in Focus: Mezzotint, Aquatint & Woodcut — Cortor, Saar, Rose & Schindler in Dialogue
The With Passion & Purpose exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. presents two exceptional prints that illuminate the expressive potential of traditional printmaking: Eldzier Cortor’s Jewels/Theme V (1985) and Alison Saar’s Sweeping Beauty (1997). These works, created through mezzotint, aquatint, and woodcut, demonstrate how artists harness centuries-old techniques to evoke emotion, narrative, and cultural memory.
Cortor’s Jewels/Theme V: Mezzotint and Aquatint
Cortor’s print exemplifies the nuanced capabilities of mezzotint and aquatint—intaglio techniques prized for their tonal richness and subtle transitions. The figure emerges from a velvety darkness, rendered with reverent softness. Cortor’s mastery of light and shadow creates a sacred stillness, portraying Black women as icons of resilience and cultural continuity.
Saar’s Sweeping Beauty: Three-Color Woodcut
Saar’s bold woodcut transforms a woman into a broom—an arresting metaphor for domestic labor, spiritual cleansing, and ancestral reckoning. Printed on Okawara paper in three carefully registered layers, the work’s vertical composition and dynamic carving give it a commanding presence. Saar’s contemporary approach to woodcut amplifies its tactile and symbolic power.
A Parallel Showcase: Washington Printmakers Gallery
In Georgetown, the 40th Anniversary, Then and Now Show at the Washington Printmakers Gallery offers a complementary view of technical excellence and creative vision. Here, artists like Leslie Rose and Deborah Schindler continue the legacy of expressive printmaking.
Under the Bridge by Leslie Rose: A richly textured woodblock print that captures the quiet drama of urban landscape. Rose’s bold carving and tonal sensitivity echo Saar’s dynamic use of relief printing, inviting viewers into a contemplative space shaped by texture and light.
Vaulting by Deborah Schindler: A dynamic etching and aquatint that explores motion and balance through elegant linework and tonal depth. Like Cortor, Schindler uses intaglio techniques to create a sense of suspended grace, where gravity bends and imagination soars.
A Dialogue Across Galleries
Together, these exhibitions form a cross-institutional dialogue on the enduring relevance of traditional printmaking. Cortor and Saar at the NGA, and Rose and Schindler at the WPG, show how artists continue to innovate within established techniques—expanding the medium’s possibilities while honoring its history.
These prints do not just hang on walls, they resonate. They speak of beauty, burden, transformation, and the power of craft. Whether in the museum or the gallery, the talent on view affirms that printmaking remains a vital language for storytelling and cultural reflection.
Photos by Barbara Bitondo