A Short History of Etchings
Etching, developed in the early 15th Century to decorate arms and armour, is the process of using either a strong acid or mordant to cut into the exposed parts of a metal surface to create an image. A paper print was taken as a record of the design. As a method of printmaking, it is – together with engraving – the most important technique for old master prints and remains in wide use today.