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In our last post of Printmaking Techniques, we explored Diane Victor’s use of softground to achieve etched textures. This week we focus on the purists approach to the softground mark, which has as its aim the creation of pencil-like lines on the plate, as illustrated in the recent works of Bruce Backhouse. Softground etching is grouped within the intaglio processes because the marks made by the artist are etched beneath the surface of the plate using acid. Softground, the material, is not entirely unlike hardground. It is made up of wax, rosin, and bitumen. The only difference being that the proportion of wax is higher than it would be in hardground. The ground is melted and then rolled out onto a warmed plate. Once dry, a sheet of hard tracing paper is gently placed over the plate. The artist then draws onto the tracing paper, over the plate. The tracing paper is lifted from the plate once the drawing is completed. Where the pressure of the drawing implement falls on the plate, the fibres of the paper in those areas lift the softground off the plate. These lines can then be etched in an acid solution at various times for a variety of delicate, pencil-like lines. By varying the etching times one merely varies the amount of ink that the line will hold, and ultimately, the tonal value of the given line.

Bruce Backhouse experimented with a variety of drawing implements to see what effect their different points would have on the softground lift. You will notice that he is using a drawing-cradle to position his hand over the plate without touching its surface. This is to ensure that the chances of foul-biting are reduced. If one’s hand were to apply pressure onto the tracing paper some of the ground would be lifted in unwanted areas, these marks would then etch, resulting in a dirty plate tone. Some artists are attracted to this effect, however, Backhouse wanted a clean plate-tone.

Diane Victor: Softground Textures

- Niall Bingham and Luke Crossley.

Keywords: Bruce Backhouse, DKW, News, Print Glossary, Print Workshop, Printmaking Techniques, softground, South-Africa