Intaglio: etching/aquatint/drypoint/engraving

Intaglio began in the middle ages with smiths engraving armor and rubbing ink into the designs and then printing them to make a record of their work. It later became the standard for mass-produced illustrations in books and replications of famous artworks, as well as a fine art medium unto itself. To create an intaglio print, a plate of either copper or zinc is coated with a resist (traditionally asphaltum and beeswax) which is then scratched through where the artist desires there to be lines. The plate is then dipped in nitric acid which bites into the areas that have been scratched. The lines can also be carved by hand (called drypoint or engraving depending on the tool used). Aquatint is a method for creating smooth gradation (which requires its own discussion).

To print the plate, ink is wiped across it, filling the etched areas. The excess is wiped off the surface. The plate is then run through a high-pressure press with softened (wet) paper which is pushed into the etched parts, picking up the ink. This process is repeated for every print pulled. Most prints are hand printed in small editions (hence the number at the bottom 1/10), and are all fine art originals (not the same as machine made, poster prints). Intaglio prints are recognizable by their distinct plate mark, where the plate has embossed the paper.