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Etching
Etching is an intaglio technique that uses chemical action to produce incised lines in a metal plate.
Etching, schematic. Shapes are drawn for illustration.
What the sources say
| Point | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Strong acid or mordant cuts into the unprotected parts of a metal surface | Wikipedia |
| Plate | Usually copper, zinc or steel, covered with an acid-resistant waxy ground | Wikipedia |
| Depth | Stronger acid and longer exposure give deeper lines | Tate |
| The paper picks up ink from the etched lines | Wikipedia | |
| Run size | Plate metal affects how many prints it will produce | Wikipedia |
| Origin | Wikipedia credits Daniel Hopfer with invention, with a hedge; Tate says etching decorated metal from the 14th century | Wikipedia, Tate |
For wall art
The sources do not agree on a single inventor, so we state none; an etching is an original print, unlike a reproduction.
Where the sources stop
No single inventor is stated as fact: Wikipedia says Hopfer is believed to be the inventor, while Tate points to earlier decorative use. Britannica could not be fetched.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Etching (fetched 2026-11-12)
- Tate art terms: etching (fetched 2026-11-12)
Figures from these pages are paraphrased; each page was fetched and read on 2026-11-12. Where two sources differ, both are shown.