Artists · Printmaking and mezzotint
Mario Avati
France · 1921–2009
Artist profile
Biography and career
French printmaker of Monegasque origin, renowned for his dedication to mezzotint and the subtle tonal qualities of his still lifes.
Printmaking
Style, subjects and techniques
His compositions of everyday objects, fruit and simple forms place the transition from velvety blacks to soft highlights at the heart of the image.
Artistic context
The mezzotint technique
Mezzotint is an intaglio printmaking technique capable of producing deep blacks and smooth gradations of light. The surface of a metal plate is worked to create different tonal values. Each artist’s relationship to the technique must be assessed individually.
To learn more about the tools and methods involved, visit the sections on the history and the mezzotint process.