How are antique etchings made?

An etching is created by coating a metal plate with an acid-resistant ground and drawing through it with a needle. Acid then bites the exposed lines into the metal. The plate is inked, wiped clean, and pressed onto paper under heavy pressure to transfer the image.

What is a drypoint etching?

Drypoint is a technique where the artist scratches the image directly into the metal plate without using acid. This process raises a burr of metal that holds extra ink. Prints made this way feature rich, soft lines that distinguish them from standard acid-bitten etchings.

How should I frame an etching?

Etchings on paper require protection behind glass to prevent atmospheric damage and fading from light exposure. Acid-free mounts keep the paper from touching the glass directly. Traditional wood, gilt wood, or gold leaf frames complement the historical nature of these works.

What periods do these prints cover?

The pieces span the nineteenth century through the Victorian and Edwardian eras into the early twentieth century. Listings include works from the eighteen-seventies up to nineteen-thirty. Styles range from traditional Victorian subjects to British Modernism and early twentieth-century printmaking.