Rideau

Stanley William Hayter

Stanley William Hayter continued to examine and experiment with different materials and methods, as with "Rideau", done in 1976 at age 75.

As Hayter aged his colors got brighter and more electric, even fluorescent, and moved in crisscrossing, rhythmic movement. He utilized all the simultaneous printing methods that the printmakers at Atelier 17 had developed in the previous 30 years.

"Rideau" is an artist's proof from the 4th state of 4. It was originally done on a larger plate, 25-1/4 x 19-3/16". These were printed in the third state in a variant edition of 30. Hayter then cut the plate 2 inches on the right side, down to 17-3/16" and printed an edition of 75 with Hector Saunier. Hayter did color trial proofs and 5 artist's proofs for this edition. This impression is a unique, color variant proof, number 3 of 5.

Hayter used a zinc plate covered with a plastic sheet and cut the vertical bands and added a soft-ground color; the second state was scraped and again covered with plastic and cut, more soft-ground texture added and was etched with a deep bite; the third state was covered with plastic and soft-ground was added with a textured impressed into it. The plate was then bitten and proved.

The edition of 75 was printed by Hayter and Atelier 17 Master Printer, Hector Saunier on a B.F.K. Rives paper.