Rembrandt and Etching

Rembrandt, Self-Portrait, 1630

While I have never done etching, which uses acid, I do look forward to one day learning this medium.  I have done drypoint, which involves taking a needle and scratching directly into the copper plate.  According to Gary Schwartz, in his book The Complete Etchings of Rembrandt, "The basic idea behind etching is fairly simple:  the etcher covers a copper plate with an acid-resistant ground, traces his/her design in the ground with a needle and exposes the plate to acid.  Wherever the ground has been scratched away, the acid will bite semi-circular grooves in the copper.  If the plate is then cleaned, inked in the grooves, cleaned again and run through the press with a sheet of paper, the ink will be pressed out of the grooves onto the paper."  Enjoy!


Rembrandt, 1653