Willi Kissmer

Willi Kissmer was born on December 24, 1951, in Duisburg, Germany. Kissmer’s creative side emerged early in life, initially in the music world, where he played guitar in a rock band. However, at the age of 20, he decided to broaden his horizons and began studying Graphic Arts at the Folkwang Art School. During his studies, Willi Kissmer had the opportunity to develop his own style and deepen his knowledge of various complex production techniques. It wasn’t long before his work, driven by the passion of this German artist, attracted the attention of the art world, leading to his first exhibitions. In creating his work, Willi Kissmer often uses a combination of etching techniques: aquatint, drypoint, and mezzotint. His work is typically figurative and sensual in nature, marked by a striking tension created by his manipulation of light on his subjects. He usually favors the interplay of models, lighting, and clothing over full nudity. Today, Willi Kissmer’s work is exhibited in leading galleries throughout Europe, America, and Russia. Aquatint One of Willi Kissmer’s frequently used techniques is aquatint. Aquatint is an etching method that creates tonal areas rather than lines in the print. The etching plate is dusted with resin grains and then heated. The grains melt and adhere to the metal, forming a layer filled with small holes. The etching process is similar to that of a standard line etch: anywhere without the acid-resistant resin, the acid bites into the metal, creating tiny pits where the resin grains were. The copper plate is then inked, with ink adhering only to the pits. The final print results in a gray-toned area on the paper, with the shade of gray depending on the etching time—the longer the plate is etched, the deeper the pits and the darker the gray.