XI

Direct Etching (Lavis)

As the name suggests, direct etching involves applying acid directly to the copper plate, either using a brush or feather, to create an area of tone that is without grain or texture. Acid is left in situ for a period to allow it to bite into the plate, creating a wash-like appearance that looks like it was created using ink and brush – hence it is also known as lavis, the French term for wash. Goya only used lavis in a small number of the Tauromaquia prints and a number of works in the Desastres series. In Lo peor es pedir (The worst is to beg) lavis has been used extensively to create the grey tone in the background, highlighting the white bonnet and dress of the young woman, providing a stark contrast between her circumstances and those of the starving people around her (See fig. 27)⁴². It is possible the extensive use of lavis to create tone rather than aquatint in the Desastres series was related to the difficulty in obtaining materials such as resin during the Peninsular War.