Etching

Etching is an intaglio printmaking process in which an image is incised into a metal plate, typically copper or zinc, by applying a protective ground and then drawing through it with a sharp tool. The exposed metal is then bitten by an acid bath, creating grooves that will hold ink for printing. The resulting image is transferred to paper by pressing the inked plate through a printing press.

The standard workflow begins with preparing a smooth metal plate. A resistant ground—often a waxy resin—is applied and hardened. The artist draws a design by removing the ground to reveal the metal. The plate is then immersed in an acid bath; the acid eats the exposed metal along the drawn lines, with bite time controlling line depth and darkness. When biting is complete, the plate is rinsed and cleaned. The grooves are then inked, the surface wiped to leave ink only in the incised lines, and damp paper is pressed over the plate to transfer the image.

Variations include soft-ground and hard-ground etching. Soft-ground uses a pliable ground to capture textures, while hard-ground is more resistant and yields crisper lines. Aquatint is a related tonal technique that uses powdered resin to create broad tonal areas before or during the etching process. Mezzotint, though distinct, is often discussed alongside etching as an intaglio method for rich tonal effects.

Historically, etching developed in Europe during the 15th–16th centuries, with artists such as Daniel Hopfer popularizing it on copper plates. It flourished in the Dutch Golden Age and later in Rembrandt’s workshop and beyond, evolving through modern and contemporary printmaking.

Today etching remains a major method in fine art printmaking, valued for its expressive line work and capacity for precise, varied tonal effects. It is also studied and practiced in educational and workshop settings worldwide.