Engravings

Engravings are prints produced by the intaglio process of engraving, in which a design is incised into a hard, smooth metal plate—typically copper—using a sharply pointed tool called a burin or graver. The incisions form grooves that hold ink; the surface is wiped clean, and damp paper is pressed onto the plate to lift the ink from the grooves, creating an image. Engraving is distinguished from other intaglio methods such as etching (which uses acid to bite the lines) and from wood engraving, a relief process where the image is carved from wood.

The technique arose in Europe during the 15th century and became a principal means of reproducing images in books and for standalone prints. German and Italian workshops produced many early masterpieces; Albrecht Dürer is among the most famous engravers, with works like Melencolia I and Knight, Death and the Devil. Through the 16th to 18th centuries, engravings circulated widely, enabling artists to distribute images beyond their own studios. Although later superseded in popularity by etching, lithography, and other processes, engraving remained highly valued for its precise line work and tonal control.

Process and materials: plates are prepared and the design is either drawn directly on the metal or transferred onto it. The engraver cuts lines with the burin, controlling depth and cross-hatching to vary tone. After engraving, the plate is inked, the surface wiped, and paper pressed to transfer the image. Editions are limited by plate wear and corrosion.

Engravings continue to be collected as historically important prints, studies in line work, and as art objects in their own right. They are preserved in museum collections worldwide, alongside scholarly appreciation of their technical and aesthetic qualities.