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History
There are many forms of printmaking, but etching, which is what I love to do, dates back to about 1500. Printmaking, like the invention of Guttenberg's metal moveable type, was a way to provide multiple copies. It was therefore possible for the general public, and not just the wealthy, to access and own artwork. The same is true today. Collecting prints is often a starting point for collecting sculpture and paintings, and it is equally satisfying.
In the spirit of providing artwork to the general public, I recognize that some folks might even find purchasing a print beyond their means at present. I am therefore happy to offer a free "etching" for you to print out on either your inkjet or laser printer. Although this is not a real etching, it is a direct scan of an etching I sell. With a high quality printer, you should have a reasonable facsimile of the real etching reading to mat and frame. Just go to the directions portion of this page.To learn more about his print, please go to Trio.
An etching is made by placing a resist, commonly called a "ground", on a metal plate and then drawing lines into it with a pointed tool. When placed in an etchant, the exposed lines will be cut into the metal, which is usually copper or zinc. The resist is then removed and the plate is inked up. This is a two part process: first, ink is spread across the entire plate. Next, the surface of the plate is wiped with a stiff cloth called a "tarlatan" until only the deeply inset etched lines retain the ink. One of the beautiful aspects of an etching is something referred to as "plate tone" which is the result of the fact that is it almost impossible to remove all traces of the ink from the surface of the plate. A special press with good and even pressure is used to press a dampened sheet of paper on the plate and into the etched lines to lift the ink.
Prints are done in editions. An edition refers to the number of prints made from one plate. Some of my prints only have an edition of 20, but the Trio etching is done in an edition of 200. Each print is numbered in the order in which it is printed. Therefore, when you see the following : 4/20, it means that this is the fourth print produced out of a total edition of 20. There are usually a few extra prints created called "proofs" which the artist generally keeps for her/himself. Once an entire edition has been printed out, the artist "strikes" the plate by scraping a line across the surface, thus making it impossible to print any more copies.
This should be set up to print correctly on most printers. Even though the image may be larger than your screen, or appear small, it will print to a standard size when you go here and hit ctrl-p (file, print... from your browser menu). The image that you print out will be only slightly smaller than the original etching which measures 6" x 8". If you would be kind enough to let me know a bit about you and your interest in art, plus any comments about my artwork, I would appreciate it. Just click here to send me a note. (Please note: The use of this image is limited to personal enjoyment only and cannot be reproduced for commercial reasons.) All images copyright 1998 © G. Malin