Gravuri

Gravuri is the Romanian plural form of gravură, referring to prints produced by intaglio techniques in which an image is incised into a metal plate, typically copper or zinc. In this sense, gravuri encompasses a range of methods used to transfer ink from incised lines or tonal areas to paper, resulting in an image.

Techniques commonly grouped under gravuri include engraving (cutting lines with a burin), etching (drawing with a resistant ground and then using acid to bite the lines), drypoint (creating burrs by sharp scratches), aquatint (tonal effects through resin or dust), mezzotint, and, in more modern practice, photogravure. While engraving and etching are traditional forms, gravuri also covers contemporary intaglio practices and hybrids used in art printing.

Process: an image is prepared on a metal matrix, which is then incised or treated according to the chosen technique. The plate is inked, and the surface is wiped so that ink remains only in the incised lines or etched areas. Paper is pressed onto the plate, often with a high-pressure press, to transfer the ink and create a print. Editions of Gravuri are typically numbered to indicate the print run.

History and context: Intaglio printmaking emerged in Europe in the 15th century as a means to reproduce illustrations and texts. Gravuri enabled multiple impressions and broader distribution before contemporary photographic methods. Notable practitioners include Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt, Francisco Goya, and Giovanni Battista Piranesi, among others.

Use today: Gravuri remain a core category in fine art printmaking, used by artists to explore line, tone, and texture. The term is common in Romanian-language catalogs, museums, and art education to describe intaglio-based prints.