some mechanical process, the portions of the plate which are to appear white
when printed being covered with stopping-out varnish. The plate is then
covered with the mordant which bites into the interstices between the minute
particles and produces a granulated surface. The process is repeated and
the different tones obtained by the varied depths to which the different
portions of the plate are bitten. In theory therefore aquatint is not capable
of producing even graduations of tint, but may be compared in effect to a
contour map where each particular elevation is indicated by a flat tint ending
abruptly. In skilful hands, however, the series of bitings can be so manipu-
lated as to make these contours almost invisible; the process can be used in
conjunction with etching, drypoint, mezzotint and crayon.

The invention of aquatint is generally credited to Jean Baptiste Le
Prince ( 1734-81), but there seems little doubt that some form of it was
known and used almost 100 years earlier. A certain Jan van de Velde seems
to have combined aquatint with roulette work in some of his portraits about
1658. In the hands of F. Janinet, P. L. Debucourt and other French artists
of the end of the 18th century the process was brought to a technical per-
fection which has never been surpassed. It was used by them, with ex-
traordinary skill and success, as a vehicle for printing in colour. In England
in the last quarter of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century
the method was used by such artists as Paul Sandby, Thomas Malton, the
Daniells, R. Pollard, J. C. Stadler for reproducing water-colour drawings.
English aquatints were not printed in colours, but were usually coloured by
hand. The process during the latter part of the 19th century fell into disuse
but was revived and successfully employed by Sir Frank Short, Theodore
Roussel, Oliver Hall, W. Lee Hankey, W. P. Robins and others. (See
ETCHING, page 133.)

BATIK, a Javanese word meaning wax painting--the application of a wax
"resist" to various materials which are afterwards dyed, and certain portions
of which are protected by the wax so that they do not absorb the dye, leaving

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