Japanese Photogravures | Based in rural Japan, I work between photography and printmaking, creating hand-pulled photogravures inspired by landscapes, sacred places, and encounters with the natural world. Rather than following predefined projects, my practice develops intuitively through travel, observation, and direct engagement with the environments I move through. Silence, atmosphere, and a sense of the “spirit of place” are central to the way I approach image-making.

Working with photopolymer photogravure, I transfer my photographs onto plates that are inked and printed by hand using an etching press. Photogravure is a historic printmaking process that emerged in the late 19th century and was favored by photographers such as Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Steichen for its ability to reproduce photographs with exceptional tonal richness and depth.

The process begins by transferring a photographic image onto a printing plate, which is then inked and printed by hand through an etching press. Unlike contemporary digital printing, where the image remains on the paper’s surface, photogravure allows the ink to settle into the paper fibers, creating a more tactile and dimensional image.

I produce my prints using photopolymer gravure plates, a modern and lower-toxicity adaptation of the traditional technique. Developed with UV exposure and water-based processing, this method combines the craftsmanship of classical printmaking with the accuracy of contemporary materials.

Each print is made individually on Japanese kozo paper, whose natural fibers absorb the ink with a distinctive softness and depth. The soft absorbency of the natural fibers enhances subtle tonal gradations and gives the surface a quiet organic texture. Small variations from the hand-printing process, together with the visible plate impression, make each print slightly unique and physically expressive.

The tactile qualities of the process—the texture of the paper, subtle tonal variations, and the physical impression of the plate—are an essential part of my work, allowing fleeting moments and quiet encounters to become enduring physical objects.

All Images © David Leveque