ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG IN TURKEY - Limited Edition of 5 Print

In this special hand-printed etching, Di Falco combines the studio techniques of intaglio, drypoint, aquatint, and Chine colle. Both hard and soft liquid ground were employed in the zinc plate. The grounds were composed of organic beeswax, oil of spike lavendar, and mineral spirits. The size of the zinc etching plate used was nine inches wide by six inches high (22.86cm x 15.24cm) and it required six individual baths in Nirtic acid to reach the final design. The print (paper size) is 11 inches high by fifteen inches wide (27.94cm x 38.10cm) and the frame in which it comes measures about sixteen inches wide by twelve inches high (40.64cm x 30.48cm). Di Falco’s media included oil base etching ink (Charbonnel brand from France), RivesBFK white paper, and Thai mulberry bark paper—infused with Japanese kozo fibers—which he treated with methylcellulose. The work, based on original drawings by the artist, used a friend’s photo that was taken in southeastern Turkey. This Second edition of five etchings will have two additional editions of five. Di Falco printed the works on an industrial, floor model Charles Brand printing press at The Center for Works on Paper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (US). In this 2nd edition, each etching contains five individually cut pieces of Treated mulberry bark paper. The scene, which is located near the 12,000 year-old prehistoric site of Göbekil Tepe, depicts a religious temple built by Antiochus I between 64 to 36 BCE. It is believed that he intended his burial to take place here on Mount Nemrut. Antiochus observed a form of astrology based on the writings of Hermes Trismegistus and believed in a combination of gods from Armenia, Greece, and Persia. It is believed that an earthquake decapitated the heads (pictured in the foreground) from their idol-bodies atop the mount. The soil and temperatures of Turkey preserved these ruins in an almost perfect state. This entire area of Turkey is inundated with historic mysteries that predate Stonehenge by 6,000 years. The price includes a Certificate of Authenticity, the artwork, an archival mat, a frame, all shipment costs, handling, and packaging materials. Notes on the Chine Collé Process—Chine Collé, which translates from French as Chinese pasting, is a process in which colored and treated paper is attached to the already inked and wiped etching plate before the printing press is activated. First, Di Falco mixes Methylcellulose powder with spring water and then paints the resulting clear viscous substance onto hand-dyed mulberry-bark paper (Unruyu brand) from Thailand. In Japan, Unryu translates as CLOUD DRAGON paper because it has long swirling threads of kozo fibers integrated in it, thereby giving the texture and visual effect of clouds. Kozo fibers come the branches of the kozo bush, specifically the innermost of three layers of bark, which must be removed, cooked, and beaten before the sheets are formed. Kozo is harvested annually. The treated Thai paper is then allowed to dry overnight. Next, DiFalco creates acetate stencils that exactly match the plate areas where he desires color. He then draws in pencil from these stencils onto the treated mulberry bark paper and hand cuts each shape, which fit the plate areas exactly. These cut shapes are then dampened with water and place on the inked etching plate. The etching paper is then placed over the zinc plate and covered with additional paper and the press-bed blankets. The entire bed is then rolled through the printing press, resulting in a multi-colored etching.

Printmaking:Aquatint on Paper

Artist Produced Limited Edition of:5

Size:16 W x 12 H x 1 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.