A hand-coloured etching is an etching printed in one colour and then painted by hand with watercolours. The printed lines provide the drawing; the translucent colours add light and atmosphere on top. Because every brushstroke is applied by hand, each sheet is a one-off.
Printing and colouring: two separate stages
An etching is printed in a single colour, usually black or sepia. How the plate is inked and pulled through the press is described in how an etching is printed. Colouring only begins once the impression has dried completely – at least two days between blotting paper. It is a separate stage with brush, water and watercolour, carried out at our Berliner Bilder Galerie on Kaiserdamm.
Watercolours are transparent. Rather than covering the printed lines, they settle over them like a tinted veil. The etcher’s hand therefore remains visible: hatching still creates shadow and depth, while the colour adds sky blue, brick red or the green of the trees.
How the colouring is done
- Light areas first: skies and large surfaces are laid in with plenty of water and little pigment.
- Layer by layer: stronger tones are added in further thin washes once the first layer has dried.
- Details last: windows, flags or blossoms get their accents with a fine brush.
- The paper is the light: unpainted paper provides the brightest highlights – in watercolour, white is not painted but left untouched.
Small differences from sheet to sheet are normal and intended: a slightly paler sky here, a deeper green in the trees there. They show that a person rather than a machine did the work – and that is the charm of a hand-coloured etching.
Hand-coloured, colour etching or art print?
The terms are often confused. The difference lies in how the colour gets onto the paper:
| Term | How is the colour created? | Typical feature |
|---|---|---|
| Hand-coloured etching | Printed in one colour, then watercolour applied with a brush | Brush marks; colour lies on top of the printed lines |
| Colour etching | Colour is printed from one or more plates | Colour has the same texture as the lines; no brush marks |
| Art print / reproduction | Photographically reproduced, e.g. offset or digital print | Dot screen under a magnifier; no plate mark |
More about printed colour can be found under colour etching. How to tell a reproduction reliably from an original is explained in how to identify an original print.
Monochrome or hand-coloured – which suits you?
For most etchings in our shop the choice is yours. Both versions come from the same plate; the monochrome one is slightly cheaper.
- Hand-coloured looks warm, lively and welcoming. Colour helps you take in buildings and landscapes at a glance – ideal for city views meant to recall a special place, and as a gift.
- Monochrome looks graphic, calm and classic, putting the etcher’s line work centre stage. Monochrome sheets suit modern, pared-back interiors and groups of several pictures on one wall.
Our advice: in a room with lots of wood, warm fabrics or plants, the coloured version usually blends in better. In bright, minimal rooms with black or grey accents, the monochrome version comes into its own.
Light and care
Watercolours are more sensitive to light than printing ink. Do not hang hand-coloured etchings in direct sunlight; a spot with indirect daylight is ideal. A frame with glass and an acid-free mount offers extra protection against dust and touch. Detailed tips are available in care and storage.
Examples from our collection
City views, animals and plants are almost always available in both versions. A few popular motifs:
Berlin, Brandenburger Tor – Sommer, 12 x 16 cmfrom 33,00€
Hamburg, Michaeliskirche – Bruck, 10 x 14 cmfrom 28,30€
Eule – 5 x 5 cm (KVCF-003)from 13,90€
Vier Jahreszeiten - Frühling – König, 5 x 5 cm (KVCF-311)from 13,90€
More topics on technique and printmaking can be found in the guide overview.
