We would like to inform you that on Monday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m., the Photo Talk entitled “HELIOGRAVURE IN THE 21ST CENTURY” will take place at the Pati Llimona.

It will be given by Carles Mitjà, photographer and heliogravure artist.

From the moment Photography became established as a technique that allowed the reproduction of what is called reality, one of the priorities was the massive distribution of images, although the problems of permanence over time of copies generated by photochemical means slowed down this development. In this context, it was in 1852 that William Henry Fox Talbot registered the first patent for a method for transferring photographic information from a positive calotype to small incisions in a metal plate. With the inking and stamping techniques already used for centuries in the practice of traditional engraving, this plate could generate a very large number of copies free of the chemical residues typical of photochemical techniques, thus guaranteeing its durability over time.

Heliogravure evolved throughout the 20th century as a technique for printing photographic images, both with manual and short-run procedures, and in its industrial version, Rotogravure, for large runs on rotary machines. However, the emergence of other methods of photographic copying and the improvement in washing and elimination systems of chemical residues caused the number of practitioners to gradually decrease until almost disappearing from 1960. It was not until the 1980s that there was a return to its manual practice.

With this return and already in the 21st century, the incorporation of digital imaging technologies in some stages of the process has brought improvements both in the execution of the technique and in the quality of the results obtained. In this discussion, CARLES MITJÀ will present an analysis in three stages. The first, a brief historical review. The second will discuss the evolution since the end of the 19th century and throughout the 20th century. Finally, the challenges that the disappearance of some products causes for continuity in the present 21st century will be discussed. Also, in this same context, the advantages that the hybridization of the method with the combined use of photochemical and digital technologies can bring will be shown.

We look forward to seeing you there!