Classic picture framing in San Francisco is what one of our framing specialties at Underglass. And some pieces arrive already knowing what they need, like
this limited edition etching and aquatint by Mexican artist Leticia Tarragó. The saturated colors and the off white of the artist paper told us everything we needed to know. From there the design built itself.
Starting with the art
We always start with what the piece brings to the room. This etching has texture, movement and a rich color palette. It also has a quiet classical quality that deserved a frame with the same sensibility.
So we looked for a frame that doesn’t feel decorative or trendy. Something that would look right today and just as right in twenty years.
The frame: scooped, oxidized and layered
We chose a scooped frame with an oxidized, layered finish. The finish picks up the texture and movement in the etching directly. It also carries a sense of age and depth that suits the timeless quality of the print.
The scoop profile draws the eye inward toward the art. That is exactly what a well chosen frame should do. It creates a visual journey from the wall to the mat to the piece itself.
The mat: wide, off white and beveled
For the mat we chose a wide off white that blends seamlessly into the artist paper. The transition from mat to art is barely visible, which was the whole point. The bevel catches the light and adds a quiet elegance to the window opening.
Crucially, the mat is wide enough to let the plate mark show. The plate mark is the subtle impression left around the image by the etching plate during printing. It is a mark of authenticity and craft. Covering it would have been a mistake.
Nothing in this design feels crowded. Every element has room.
What classic framing really means
Classic does not mean conservative. It means the frame serves the art without demanding attention for itself. It means the design holds up over time because it is built around what the piece actually is.
That is the standard we hold ourselves to at Underglass. Every project, every piece, every client who trusts us with something that matters to them.
If you have a fine art print, an etching, a painting or any piece you want framed with that kind of care, come in and let us look at it together.
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Underglass Custom Picture Framing · Castro District · San Francisco Custom design · Conservation framing · Open 7 days
