Etching & Aquatint | Águatinta e Água-forte

Etching and aquatint are traditional intaglio techniques that allow for an extraordinary range of line, tone, and atmosphere. Etching creates incisive lines through the careful biting of the metal plate, while aquatint introduces subtle textures and velvety tonal fields, expanding the expressive possibilities of printmaking.

In my practice, I approach these techniques not only as methods of reproduction, but as a creative field of experimentation. I often work with the plate as if it were a space for drawing and painting, layering lines, tonal variations, and unexpected textures. A distinctive part of my process is the use of inventive frames and borders, which transform the image into a dynamic composition that challenges the boundaries of the plate itself.

Many of my works also arise from the juxtaposition of disparate references—fragments of figures, gestures, and motifs that might seem unrelated at first, but which I recompose into new visual narratives. Through this approach, etching and aquatint become tools not only of precision, but of imagination, allowing me to merge technical discipline with expressive freedom.

Portrait Installation — Artist Statement

This installation presents a series of polished copper and zinc printmaking plates arranged as reflective surfaces—mirrored matrices where the viewer becomes both subject and witness. On each plate, the image of a person seen from behind is subtly etched in contrast, while the mirrored metal reflects the actual presence of anyone standing before it.

The visual impact is heightened by the plates being inked, enriching the etched figures with color contrast and enhancing their visibility. A printproof is also incorporated into the composition, linking the realm of tactile printed image with the immersive reflection. This layered interplay of real reflection, etched imagery, and printed proof creates a poetic dialogue on identity, perspective, and the role of the observer.

The work thus blurs boundaries between printmaking and interactive installation art, inviting the audience to recognize themselves within the piece, while also encountering an enigmatic figure turned away—an interplay of intimacy and distance, presence and memory.

Woodcut Portraits

My woodcut portraits explore the human presence through a balance of creativity, emotion, and personality. Each work is carved with intuitive gestures that capture more than likeness—they reveal inner states, moods, and the individuality of each person. The raw texture of the woodcut technique intensifies expression, while the interplay of line and contrast gives the portraits a striking visual energy.

Through this medium, portraiture becomes not just representation but interpretation, where the sitter’s essence emerges in bold and poetic form.

Linocut Portraits

My linocut portraits translate human presence into bold lines and graphic contrasts, where creativity and expression come to the forefront. Each portrait seeks not only to capture resemblance but to reveal the sitter’s emotions, energy, and personality. The carving process allows for fluid experimentation with shapes and textures, giving the works a contemporary edge while retaining the tactile power of traditional printmaking.

In this series, the linocut becomes a language of character and mood, turning each portrait into a dynamic interpretation of individuality.