Aga Rayburn Interior — Aquatint Etching — Jenny Mason-Gunning

Aga Rayburn Interior — Aquatint Etching — Jenny Mason-GunningAga Rayburn Interior is a steel aquatint etching exploring the layered structure of the Aga Rayburn factory from within. Complex, detailed, and built through multiple stages, this plate represents a demanding and deeply rewarding process.The composition reveals beams, framework, and architectural divisions interwoven in a dense industrial space. Light filters through openings above, breaking the structure into shifting tonal fields. The image balances solidity and fragility — steel framework against shadow, geometry against decay.This plate was created using Jenny Mason-Gunning’s non-toxic ground in combination with Ironbridge photo emulsion resist, allowing for both drawn and photographic elements to coexist within the same surface. The etching developed over multiple stages, with careful biting and aquatint work to build tonal depth and atmosphere.Aquatint plays a crucial role in holding the complexity together. Deep blacks anchor the composition, while mid-tones soften transitions and allow detail to emerge gradually. The tonal layering gives the print richness without losing clarity.Though challenging to make, the result is confident and resolved — a powerful interior study that reflects both technical control and an enduring fascination with industrial spaces.Aga Rayburn Interior stands as a testament to process: layered, deliberate, and grounded in the material strength of steel etching.