Denzva II

Drypoint is a sensitive and immediate (direct / additive) intaglio technique. It is not etching because no acid is used to create the incisions in the metal plate; instead, a sharp tool and the artist’s hand are used. Because the needle works directly on the plate surface, drypoint allows expressive, flowing lines while also accommodating jagged and ‘irritated’ lines. During the drawing action with a needle or other abrasive tool/material, the displaced metal forms a raised burr along the length of the lines or marks. The main principle of drypoint is that the incised marks and lines hold the printing ink in both the crevices and the burr, resulting in prints with a rich, velvety quality. The inking-up process and pressure exerted by the press soon wear down the burr on the surface of the plate. The incised lines are often very shallow and eventually unable to contain much ink – prints gradually lose their richness and quality.