Danaë 1954

Stanley William Hayter made this intaglio print, Danaë, using metal plates and colored inks. Intaglio refers to printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and this one involved a particularly painstaking process. Hayter was renowned for his innovative techniques, using tools to gouge lines and textures directly into the metal, creating a matrix capable of holding ink. Think about the labor involved in this process of manually cutting into the metal, building up layers of ink, and transferring it to paper under immense pressure. The resulting print is a testament to the artist's physical engagement with the material. The texture of the paper, the viscosity of the inks, and the pressure of the printing press all contribute to the final image. By focusing on the materiality and the making, we can move beyond just seeing an image, and really appreciate the artist's labor, and the unique qualities of printmaking as both craft and fine art.