Study of a calico cat lapping milk out of a saucer, color aquatint with drypoint by Mary Cassatt,

Aquatint and drypoint are both intaglio printmaking techniques that create different visual effects. Aquatint achieves tonal areas by using a porous ground on the plate, allowing for varied ink retention and thus different shades in the final print. Drypoint creates lines by scratching directly into the plate with a needle, producing a characteristic burr that holds ink and creates a soft, velvety line. Combining these techniques allows artists to achieve a range of tones, textures, and line qualities in a single print.