Migration (AP XI), John Wade (b. 1947), c.1970s–1980s, original intaglio etching on paper, 11 × 15 in., pencil signed and marked AP XI.
Original intaglio etching titled Migration by American printmaker John Wade, signed artist’s proof (AP XI), depicting a sweeping flock of birds over atmospheric landscape textures. Executed using experimental etching techniques combining traditional intaglio with tonal plate effects, the composition reflects Wade’s distinctive blend of realism and abstraction in contemporary American printmaking.
Artwork Description
Migration is a contemplative monochrome intaglio etching by American printmaker John Wade that captures the fleeting movement of migratory birds across a vast atmospheric landscape. The composition is structured in two horizontal registers: the upper panel depicts a flock of birds sweeping diagonally across open sky, while the lower panel dissolves into dense, textured tonal fields suggesting terrain, cloud masses, or distant water.
The birds are rendered with expressive etched marks—short, energetic strokes that create both motion and depth. Their formation curves across the upper field, guiding the viewer’s eye from the left margin into the open expanse of the sky. The lower register contrasts dramatically with this linear movement. Here Wade employs a dense constellation of tonal textures created through intaglio techniques such as aquatint and experimental plate treatments. The effect is atmospheric and almost cosmic, suggesting landscape, weather systems, or the shifting surface of the earth.
This dual composition embodies Wade’s characteristic blending of the real and the phantasmagoric. While the birds are recognizable and naturalistic, the lower portion moves toward abstraction, evoking emotional and environmental resonance rather than literal depiction. The piece reflects the broader themes of migration, movement, and natural cycles.
The print is an artist’s proof (AP XI), indicating it was printed outside the numbered edition and retained by the artist. Artist’s proofs are typically produced during the refinement of the plate and are valued by collectors because they represent early impressions often printed with exceptional care.
The etching plate mark is clearly visible around the image area, confirming the traditional intaglio printing process in which damp paper is pressed into inked incised lines under significant pressure. Wade’s signature appears in pencil in the lower right margin, while the title and proof designation appear in the lower left.
The sheet features a natural deckled edge consistent with fine printmaking papers used in studio intaglio printing during the late twentieth century.
Artist Biography
John Wade (American, born 1947) is an accomplished printmaker known for his mastery of original etching and experimental intaglio processes. Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, Wade developed an early interest in drawing and graphic arts, eventually pursuing formal training in the field.
He received a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree from Elon College and later earned an Associate of Applied Arts degree from the Technical College of Alamance. His academic training provided a strong foundation in both traditional printmaking methods and graphic design principles.
Between 1967 and 1971 Wade served in the United States Army as an illustrator, a role that further refined his drawing skills and visual communication techniques. This period proved formative in shaping his disciplined approach to mark-making and composition.
Following his military service, Wade established his own graphics studio in North Carolina in 1972, conceived as both a working studio and an experimental workshop for printmaking. In this environment he explored the technical boundaries of the etching process, experimenting with photo emulsions, plate preparation methods, and tonal techniques while maintaining a commitment to traditional intaglio craftsmanship.
Wade’s work is particularly noted for its synthesis of traditional printmaking processes with personal technical innovations. He often combines etching, aquatint, and other intaglio methods to create atmospheric tonal fields and layered imagery. His compositions frequently juxtapose recognizable natural subjects—such as birds, landscapes, and organic forms—with abstract textures that evoke weather, geological formations, or cosmic space. This blending of the real and the phantasmagoric has become a defining characteristic of his work.
Throughout his career Wade’s prints have been exhibited extensively in galleries across the southeastern United States, including exhibitions in:
Manteo, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Norfolk, Virginia
Burlington, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Richmond, Virginia
Nags Head, North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
His work is represented in numerous private and corporate collections, including:
Bankers & Shippers of New York
Ramada Inn
Consolidated Foods Company
General Electric Company
North Carolina Society for Original Graphics
Wade has also received recognition through various exhibitions and competitions, including honors from the Lynchburg Fine Arts Festival, the Wilmington Azalea Festival, and the Alamance County Arts Council Fine Arts Competition.
He is an exhibiting member of the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild and the North Carolina Society for Original Graphics, organizations dedicated to promoting high standards in craft and printmaking.
As of 2026, Wade’s work remains appreciated among collectors of studio printmaking for its technical sophistication and poetic interpretation of natural themes. His prints reflect a period in American art when independent print studios flourished and artists explored the expressive potential of traditional intaglio processes alongside experimental techniques.
John Wade (b. 1947)
Migration (AP XI)
Original intaglio etching on paper
Image approx. 11 × 15 in.
Signed in pencil, artist’s proof
American studio printmaking, c.1970s–1980s.
Certificate of Authentication
This certifies that the artwork titled Migration is an original intaglio etching created by American printmaker John Wade (born 1947). The print is signed by the artist in pencil and designated Artist’s Proof XI. The work was produced using traditional etching techniques on fine art paper and retains visible plate marks and deckled sheet edges consistent with studio printmaking practices of the period.
This artwork has been acquired through Mitch Morse Gallery and is part of the Artfind Gallery collection.
Artfind Gallery
Washington, DC
Condition
Very good vintage condition. Strong impression with visible plate mark and deckled edges. Minor handling wear consistent with age; no visible foxing, tears, or major paper loss observed from the provided images.
Provenance
Mitch Morse Gallery, New York, USA / Europe
Private acquisition through Mitch Morse Gallery
Artfind Gallery, Washington DC (current owner)
Citations
Artist biography materials provided in accompanying documentation.
North Carolina Society for Original Graphics archival references.
Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild exhibition records.
Migration (AP XI), John Wade (b. 1947), c.1970s–1980s, original intaglio etching on paper, 11 × 15 in., pencil signed and marked AP XI.
Original intaglio etching titled Migration by American printmaker John Wade, signed artist’s proof (AP XI), depicting a sweeping flock of birds over atmospheric landscape textures. Executed using experimental etching techniques combining traditional intaglio with tonal plate effects, the composition reflects Wade’s distinctive blend of realism and abstraction in contemporary American printmaking.
Artwork Description
Migration is a contemplative monochrome intaglio etching by American printmaker John Wade that captures the fleeting movement of migratory birds across a vast atmospheric landscape. The composition is structured in two horizontal registers: the upper panel depicts a flock of birds sweeping diagonally across open sky, while the lower panel dissolves into dense, textured tonal fields suggesting terrain, cloud masses, or distant water.
The birds are rendered with expressive etched marks—short, energetic strokes that create both motion and depth. Their formation curves across the upper field, guiding the viewer’s eye from the left margin into the open expanse of the sky. The lower register contrasts dramatically with this linear movement. Here Wade employs a dense constellation of tonal textures created through intaglio techniques such as aquatint and experimental plate treatments. The effect is atmospheric and almost cosmic, suggesting landscape, weather systems, or the shifting surface of the earth.
This dual composition embodies Wade’s characteristic blending of the real and the phantasmagoric. While the birds are recognizable and naturalistic, the lower portion moves toward abstraction, evoking emotional and environmental resonance rather than literal depiction. The piece reflects the broader themes of migration, movement, and natural cycles.
The print is an artist’s proof (AP XI), indicating it was printed outside the numbered edition and retained by the artist. Artist’s proofs are typically produced during the refinement of the plate and are valued by collectors because they represent early impressions often printed with exceptional care.
The etching plate mark is clearly visible around the image area, confirming the traditional intaglio printing process in which damp paper is pressed into inked incised lines under significant pressure. Wade’s signature appears in pencil in the lower right margin, while the title and proof designation appear in the lower left.
The sheet features a natural deckled edge consistent with fine printmaking papers used in studio intaglio printing during the late twentieth century.
Artist Biography
John Wade (American, born 1947) is an accomplished printmaker known for his mastery of original etching and experimental intaglio processes. Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, Wade developed an early interest in drawing and graphic arts, eventually pursuing formal training in the field.
He received a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree from Elon College and later earned an Associate of Applied Arts degree from the Technical College of Alamance. His academic training provided a strong foundation in both traditional printmaking methods and graphic design principles.
Between 1967 and 1971 Wade served in the United States Army as an illustrator, a role that further refined his drawing skills and visual communication techniques. This period proved formative in shaping his disciplined approach to mark-making and composition.
Following his military service, Wade established his own graphics studio in North Carolina in 1972, conceived as both a working studio and an experimental workshop for printmaking. In this environment he explored the technical boundaries of the etching process, experimenting with photo emulsions, plate preparation methods, and tonal techniques while maintaining a commitment to traditional intaglio craftsmanship.
Wade’s work is particularly noted for its synthesis of traditional printmaking processes with personal technical innovations. He often combines etching, aquatint, and other intaglio methods to create atmospheric tonal fields and layered imagery. His compositions frequently juxtapose recognizable natural subjects—such as birds, landscapes, and organic forms—with abstract textures that evoke weather, geological formations, or cosmic space. This blending of the real and the phantasmagoric has become a defining characteristic of his work.
Throughout his career Wade’s prints have been exhibited extensively in galleries across the southeastern United States, including exhibitions in:
Manteo, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Norfolk, Virginia
Burlington, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Richmond, Virginia
Nags Head, North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
His work is represented in numerous private and corporate collections, including:
Bankers & Shippers of New York
Ramada Inn
Consolidated Foods Company
General Electric Company
North Carolina Society for Original Graphics
Wade has also received recognition through various exhibitions and competitions, including honors from the Lynchburg Fine Arts Festival, the Wilmington Azalea Festival, and the Alamance County Arts Council Fine Arts Competition.
He is an exhibiting member of the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild and the North Carolina Society for Original Graphics, organizations dedicated to promoting high standards in craft and printmaking.
As of 2026, Wade’s work remains appreciated among collectors of studio printmaking for its technical sophistication and poetic interpretation of natural themes. His prints reflect a period in American art when independent print studios flourished and artists explored the expressive potential of traditional intaglio processes alongside experimental techniques.
John Wade (b. 1947)
Migration (AP XI)
Original intaglio etching on paper
Image approx. 11 × 15 in.
Signed in pencil, artist’s proof
American studio printmaking, c.1970s–1980s.
Certificate of Authentication
This certifies that the artwork titled Migration is an original intaglio etching created by American printmaker John Wade (born 1947). The print is signed by the artist in pencil and designated Artist’s Proof XI. The work was produced using traditional etching techniques on fine art paper and retains visible plate marks and deckled sheet edges consistent with studio printmaking practices of the period.
This artwork has been acquired through Mitch Morse Gallery and is part of the Artfind Gallery collection.
Artfind Gallery
Washington, DC
Condition
Very good vintage condition. Strong impression with visible plate mark and deckled edges. Minor handling wear consistent with age; no visible foxing, tears, or major paper loss observed from the provided images.
Provenance
Mitch Morse Gallery, New York, USA / Europe
Private acquisition through Mitch Morse Gallery
Artfind Gallery, Washington DC (current owner)
Citations
Artist biography materials provided in accompanying documentation.
North Carolina Society for Original Graphics archival references.
Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild exhibition records.
