"Mujera Venta Cestas" ~ Gum Dichromate Print

This image is the companion print of the "Woman Selling Baskets". This print named the same, in Spanish, being that is what I wanted. I interpreted the print image much like the first one, with the background to the women's image being bright and blank, focusing the image on the women, and their respective clothing.

The very nature of gum printing has to do with the treatment of the print, from the first handling of the printing paper, to the final clearing. I have traditionally used the gum sizing at 2 1/2% gelatin sizing; two dips. Over the years I have altered the rag paper I print on, now using Hahnemuhle rag paper, which is presized for most photographic hand coated printing, just not for gum printing. For the 11"x14" gum prints I use Fabriano Artistico rag paper, which I also like a lot. But again, needs sizing.

 What I am noticing of the past prints is that they are very close to being similar in how the image sits on the surface of the paper. There is, and should be some absorption of the gum into the paper, the gum attaching to the 'tooth' of the pap[er for the gum to stay on the paper after floating and final clearing. There are areas whereupon the gum has spacial openings between layers on the bottom, as some floats off, with another layer laying over that. Some tooth is necessary. What I am going to do is raise my sizing level to somewhere between 3% & 3 1/2% gelatin sizing, to further hold the image on the surface more, thereby increasing the textural replication and acutance of the image. When the gum image sinks or falls into the paper, it becomes softer, less sharp, and tends to be lighter, being the fuller range of the color not being reflected off the paper for the viewer.

This was a nine color layer print, using a dozen colors. Some layers were split colors, applied to different areas, like the ribbon on the subject's dress, hair, skin tones, dress and background, which I kept blank, as brilliant light. Had the colors rested more on the surface of the paper, the sharper the subject detail and textural quality of the fabrics.

Gum Dichromate Print

"Mujera  Venta Cestas"

"La Paloma, Mexico