graving

Graving is the act of incising designs onto a hard surface, typically metal, with the aim of producing images or inscriptions. In art history, the term is often used as a historical synonym for engraving. The practice derives from the Old French graver, meaning to carve, and has long been associated with the use of hand tools known as gravers or burins to create lines on a plate or other substrate.

In traditional engraving, a sharp tool is drawn across a metal plate (commonly copper or steel) to create incised lines. The resulting grooves hold ink, which is transferred to paper under pressure to produce a print. Engraving is contrasted with etching, which relies on acid to attack the metal rather than direct cutting.

Graving as a printmaking technique developed in the 15th century in Europe and became a primary method for printed illustration and reproductive images until the rise of lithography and photography. Notable early engravers include Martin Schongauer and Albrecht Dürer, whose line work demonstrated precision and tonal possibilities.

Beyond paper prints, the term graving is also used in other contexts to describe direct carving into metal or stone for inscriptions, jewelry, or decorative work. In modern practice, machinery and laser devices are used for contemporary engraving, while the term remains a historical reference to traditional hand engraving and to the broader family of techniques sometimes grouped under "engraving" or "graving."