gravuur

Gravuur is the Dutch term for engraving, a traditional method of intaglio printmaking. In gravuur, a design is incised into a metal plate—typically copper or zinc—so that the incised lines hold ink. The plate is inked, the surface wiped clean, and damp paper is pressed onto it to transfer the image in a print.

Techniques include line engraving, etching, drypoint, aquatint, and combinations of these. In line engraving, a burin or graver cuts directly into the plate to create precise lines. Etching uses a ground that is drawn upon and then chemically bitten by acid to produce lines. Drypoint relies on a sharp needle to raise a burr, yielding soft, velvety lines. Aquatint (often used for tonal areas) involves dusting powdered resin and repeatedly biting to build tonal values.

Materials and tools: metal plates (copper or zinc), ground coatings, burins and etching needles, acids for biting, printing press, and ink formulated for intaglio. The process allows many identical impressions and is valued for its capacity to produce fine lines, shading, and tonal variety.

History and context: Gravuur emerged in Europe during the early modern period and developed into a major art form by the 17th and 18th centuries. In the Dutch and Dutch-Belgian printmaking tradition, artists such as Rembrandt and his contemporaries advanced the technique, mixing engraving with etching and drypoint. The method also played a key role in reproducing paintings and in creating original prints for collectors.

Today gravuur remains practiced by contemporary printmakers and teachers and is taught in many printmaking studios. It continues to be used for artistic expressiveness as well as for technical reproduction, often in hybrid workflows that combine traditional methods with modern materials.