🖼ap art history review

Engraving printmaking

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examWritten by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025

Definition

Engraving printmaking is a technique where an image is incised onto a metal plate, usually copper, using a sharp tool called a burin. Ink is then applied to the plate and wiped off the surface, leaving ink only in the incised lines. The plate is pressed onto paper to create a printed image.

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