Who painted Untitled (Experiment—Wet Aquatint)?

Untitled (Experiment—Wet Aquatint) was painted by James David Smillie in 1890.

Where can I see Untitled (Experiment—Wet Aquatint)?

Untitled (Experiment—Wet Aquatint) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Untitled (Experiment—Wet Aquatint)?

Untitled (Experiment—Wet Aquatint) is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Untitled (Experiment—Wet Aquatint)?

Museum-quality prints of Untitled (Experiment—Wet Aquatint) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Untitled (Experiment—Wet Aquatint)

James David Smillie , 1890

Untitled (Experiment—Wet Aquatint) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist James David Smillie. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Untitled (Experiment—Wet Aquatint) is a black aquatint print executed by James David Smillie in 1890. The work measures a compact, atmospheric landscape rendered in dense, smudged tones that emphasize a sense of solitude and muted light.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a stark hillside where a solitary, twisted tree rises amid jagged rocks. The sky recedes into a veil of gray, suggesting an overcast or twilight setting that heightens the mood of quiet desolation.

Technique & Style

Smillie employed the wet aquatint process, a variation that involves keeping the resin-coated plate damp while applying acid. This allows ink to spread irregularly, producing soft, cloud‑like gradients and a sketch‑like quality that differs from the crisp lines of traditional dry aquatint.

History & Provenance

Created as a technical study, the print was not intended for commercial exhibition but to explore the possibilities of the wet aquatint method. It remains part of the artist’s experimental oeuvre, illustrating his interest in expanding printmaking techniques during the late nineteenth century.

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Artist & collection

Artist

James David Smillie

James David Smillie was an American artist, cofounder of the American Watercolor Society and New York Etching Club. His brother was painter George Henry Smillie.