What are engravings? Engravings vintage (photo)

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

What are engravings? This question interests many. For some, a sonorous foreign word is associated with the image of a biblical story on a metal or stone board, others believe that this is just a drawing carved with a knife on the surface of the table.

Still the question: "What is engraving?" - it is impossible to answer unambiguously, since the technologies for creating drawings are quite complex. But one thing is certain. Engraving is a special kind of graphic art, which has its own outstanding artists and unsurpassed masters.

Engraving technique

The art of painting does not involve any technical means, except for a set of artistic brushes, a palette and an easel. Engravings, which require multi-stage technical preparation, with many trial attempts, are another matter. But then why is it needed? Isn't it easier to draw one picture and not waste time and effort on copying it multiple times. Moreover, genuine fine art does not tolerate repetition. However, this principle does not work here. The effect of the engraving lies in its unusualness, the structure of the drawing is fascinating.

Graphic images obtained by printing are called "printing". However, an engraving is an impression from any original, while an engraving is an impression from an engraved board. What are engravings in terms of manufacturing technology? Simple manipulations, during which it is necessary to press a sheet of paper against a board on which paint was previously applied. Then this sheet is carefully separated from the board - and the engraving is ready.

Metal and wood

The art of engraving is not a print, but the making of an original, from which any number of copies can then be made. The stronger the material from which the "board" is made, the more prints can be obtained. There are two types of engravings: letterpress and gravure. The first way is to artistically cut through the original in a mirror image, so that the ink transfers to the paper from the outer surface of the cut out picture. And the second method provides that the paint will go to the paper sheet from the recesses filled with it on the "board".

Art originated in the 15th century, since then it has been repeatedly modified. Engraving boards were originally made from sheet copper, the softest metal. Later, woodcut technologies appeared, according to which the board was cut from hardwood. This method was less labor-intensive, and it was also possible to create multi-color prints. To do this, it was necessary to make several boards with different arrangements of drawing elements. The sheet was applied in turn to eachboard, with intermediate drying, resulting in a color image.

Vintage engravings

Prints became widespread in the 15th century. The most valuable engravings were created at the same time, in the workshops of the German artists Martin Schongauer and Albrecht Dürer. Italians Andrea Mantegna and Antonio Pollaiolo did not lag behind them.

In the 16th century, the art of engraving was widely recognized, in Europe engraving was elevated to the rank of high art, mainly due to Durer's masterpieces such as "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse", "The Coat of Arms of Death", "Melancholy".

The end of the 16th century was marked by a breakthrough in artistic engraving, simple drawings became a thing of the past, expressive plastic appeared, cutting technologies became much more complicated, parallel and cross hatching made it possible to achieve fantastic results in achieving a three-dimensional effect and in the play of chiaroscuro. The drawing acquired signs of sophistication, which served as an incentive for further improvement of techniques.

Development of engraving

Artists began to use etching of the metal base and received the technology of etching, which flourished in full force only in the 17th century. The brilliant portrait painter Rembrandt also took up engravings and achieved significant success in this field. The artist Jean Callot devoted his entire life to the art of engraving and created a whole gallery of portraits of his contemporaries. Claude Lorrain became interested in translating his paintings into engravings. A Rubensorganized a special workshop in which his paintings were reproduced.

Popularity

The 17th century was a golden time for the development of a new art - engraving and etching. The list of genres in which the artists worked was expanding. These were portraits and landscapes, pastorals, battle scenes, still lifes, animals and inhabitants of the deep sea. Many artists of that time considered it an honor to try their hand at the art of engraving. Entire albums appeared, united thematically, according to plot and artistic features. Hogarth's satirical etchings, Chodovetsky's miniatures, and a series of engravings by Francisco Goya instantly became famous.

Japanese printmaking art

The Land of the Rising Sun, known for its artistic traditions, did not stand aside. Japanese engraving is a whole layer of the country's culture, part of its national fine arts. The history of the appearance of the first prints of "ukiyo-e" goes back to the 17th century. Back then, Japanese prints were printed in black and white. In the early 18th century, artists introduced color printing and ukiyo-e was transformed.

Prints in Japan were inexpensive and in steady demand. They depicted scenes from the life of the common people. These are first of all beautiful geisha (this was the main theme), then there were sumo wrestlers, and in third place were famous actors of the kabuki theater. After some time, landscape engraving came into fashion.

Protection of especially valuable specimens

The most famous etchings, both ancient and recenttime, systematized. The engraving, the photo of which is available to the public, has its own registration number and, as a rule, is registered. This is necessary so that its artistic value remains inviolable. Rare specimens, such as the masterpieces of Albrecht Dürer, are under the protection of UNESCO. A world-famous or especially valuable engraving, photos and reproductions of which are placed in special Interpol directories, is protected by special services.

Modernity

At the beginning of the 20th century, the development of engraving as an art form continued. Under Soviet rule, a whole generation of talented artists appeared who successfully worked in the field of etchings and prints. During this period, the engraving experienced its next take-off, the drawing became even more complicated, its expressiveness approached its climax. In the 1930s, the Russian and then the Soviet school of engraving was formed, represented by talented artists and their students. The prospect of further development of the art of etching loomed bright. Then, already in the pre-war years, engraving became a poster, and its popularity declined markedly.

After the Great Patriotic War for almost 20 years, prints were produced only as a means of inexpensive but effective Soviet propaganda. Currently, the art of engraving is in a state of some stagnation, there are no new enthusiasts, and older artists are busy with commercial projects. Although even today, to the question of what engravings are, any Russian is able to give an exhaustive answer. Perhaps in the future there will be new types of engravings, because art tends to be reborn in new guises.