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Etching is a printing technique from the 15th century that combines art and chemistry.
Well-known examples are “Knight, Death and the Devil” by Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528, Germany), “Madonna in the Clouds” by Federico Barocci (1535–1612, Italy), and Rembrandt’s “Hundred Guilder” sheet (1606–1669, the Netherlands).
Graphic reproduction such as etching also continues to play a role in modern art. In 2018, the artistic printing techniques of relief printing, gravure such as etching, planographic printing, pressure printing, and their mixed forms were included in the German UNESCO Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Practitioners of the art of printing techniques constantly incorporate further developments into their work.
References
- Matthias Ducci, Marco Oetken, Kunst Trifft Chemie: Radierung, Spektrum der Wissenschaft 2018. (accessed April 7, 2022)
- Patrice Bell, Deborah G. Sauder, Julia E. Barker Paredes, Using Etching, Electroplating and Lithography as a Laboratory Sequence in Chemistry of Art and Nanotechnology Themed Physical Science Courses, Journal of Laboratory Chemical Education 2013, 1(3), 49–53. https://doi.org/10.5923/j.jlce.20130103.03
- Nationwide Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage – Artistic Printing Techniques of Relief, Gravure, Planographic, Pressure Printing and their Mixed Forms, UNESCO, German Commission for UNESCO. (accessed April 7, 2022)
- Druckwerkstätten BBK Mannheim, personal communication, April 2022.
Also of Interest
- Video: How Do Oil Paints Dry?
- Collection: Chemistry & Art
A compilation of articles on chemistry in artworks, on art inspired by chemistry, about the work of scientific teams in museums
