Gretchen Albrecht

Gretchen Albrecht’s series of Polymer Photogravure Etchings—Last Rays, Ebb Tide, Flood Tide, and Pink Clouds (sunset)—present a captivating exploration of light, atmosphere, and memory, deeply influenced by the celebrated British landscape painter, J.M.W. Turner. These works, created in 2016, draw upon Albrecht’s longstanding engagement with Turner’s ‘colour study’ sketchbooks, which she first encountered in 1979 at the British Library in London. This experience, facilitated by Dr Eric McCormick, afforded her a rare opportunity to study these intimate and ephemeral works, which would leave a lasting imprint on her artistic practice.

It was in this encounter with Turner’s studies that Albrecht experienced an intense connection with the artist’s atmospheric use of colour, an influence that she describes as “luminescent, radiant and mysterious.” She recalls the vivid sensation of those early studies, noting how Turner’s work, with its fluid and abstract qualities, suggested landscapes that were more emotional than literal. “These were delivered to the table with a small easel, along with a pair of white gloves,” she remembers. “For the rest of the morning, I was immersed in his floods and patches of transparent watercolour: luminescent, radiant and mysterious. They bordered on abstraction (proto-Rothko) with often just the merest suggestion of a horizon or sea-edge, or beach or breakwater wall; the evanescent colour spilling into areas for sky or land, sunsets and sunrises all executed quickly and on a small intimate scale. A perfect viewing experience that made a deep impression on me, and now 37 years later those recalled sensations have tumbled out into these four new prints.”

Albrecht’s own works in this series embody a similarly elusive quality, where light and atmosphere become the primary subjects rather than any detailed depiction of landscape. In Last Rays, Ebb Tide, Flood Tide, and Pink Clouds (sunset), she uses polymer acetate to create ethereal collages that are then photographically transferred to plates for etching. The resulting prints echo the transient, ephemeral beauty that Turner so masterfully captured, yet they present it through Albrecht’s own contemporary lens, merging her characteristic geometric structures with a more organic and fluid abstraction.

The process behind these works was a true collaboration with master printmaker Pete Kosowicz at Thumbprint Editions in Camberwell, London. Originally intending to produce just a single print, Albrecht’s creative process expanded, resulting in a series of four distinct pieces. With Kosowicz’s expert guidance and the invaluable support of printer Marta Gonzalez, the works evolved through numerous proofing and colour trials. By the time the Bon à tirer (BAT) proofs were signed and numbered later that year, Albrecht had created a series that not only honoured Turner’s legacy but also advanced her own unique voice in the realm of printmaking.

Albrecht’s ability to evoke both the mystery of the natural world and the subtle abstraction of colour continues to captivate, offering viewers a chance to experience light, water, and atmosphere through her distinctive, contemporary perspective. These etchings remain an enduring testament to her exploration of the delicate balance between organic fluidity and geometric precision, and invite us to see the world through her eyes—shifting, luminous, and full of possibility.

What is Photogravure Etching?

Photogravure etching is a printmaking technique that merges photography with traditional etching methods to create detailed, tonal images. The process begins with a photographic image transferred onto a plate, usually made of copper, which is coated with a light-sensitive material. This material is exposed to light through a negative, hardening in some areas, while the rest remains soft. After washing away the unexposed material, the plate is etched in a chemical bath, creating varying depths on the surface. These etched areas can then hold ink, which is transferred onto paper under pressure, producing a rich, textured print with subtle gradations of tone.

Limited edition of: 30

Signed, numbered and titled by the artist.

Gretchen Albrecht has exhibited in New Zealand and internationally for more than 35 years. Her paintings were exhibited in Valencia, Spain as part of the exhibition Ultramarte at the Casa Museo Benlliure, and throughout New Zealand in the group exhibition ‘Diaspora: Pluralism and Singularity’ and her survey exhibitions ‘Illuminations’ at Auckland Art Gallery and ‘Returning’ at Dunedin Art Gallery.

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