Intaglio – Printmaking Etching, engraving, dry point, aquatint and mezzotint are all printing techniques that belong to the Intaglio. This printmaking technique involves depressions being cut into printing plate or matrix. The depressions that are cut into the plate hold the ink and transfer them to substrate, typically paper or card. Etching is the most commonly practiced method within the intaglio family. Etching consists of applying an acid resistant wax to the panel (usually made from copper or zinc) the acid resistant wax is then etched into wax revealing the plate underneath. The plate is then bathed in a container of acid until the plate is sufficiently “bitten”. This is a term used to describe the eroding or eating of the acid into the copper plate. The acid resistant wax is then removed to leave just the acid eroded engraved image. The plate is rubbed with ink using newspaper or phonebook paper. The plate is then put through a printing press on top of a damp piece of card. The plate is then removed once the printing process is complete to reveal the printed image.
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was a 17th century Dutch etcher and painter. Rembrandt produced hundreds, maybe thousands of prints using the acid plate technique. He favoured this method over any other belonging to the Intaglio print family.
Etching became popular around the 16th century and grew from the 15th century when it was used to decorate swords, armour, buildings and frames for paintings. Artists throughout Europe favoured this technique over engraving as it did not require a square ended or diamond tipped tool that was used in a completely different way than a needle is used in etching. These diamond pointed tools could also be very expensive and unaffordable for many artists of the time. Many creatives just discovering Intaglio chose etching over engraving because of the soft edged image it produces as opposed to the hard straight edged result that engraving offered. Etching was considered a more creative and artistic way of working and also proved easier for the everyday artist as the tool was used in a similar manner to which a pencil would be used on paper.
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