Chapman, J.G. (John Gadsby), 1808-1889. / The American drawing-book: a manual for the amateur, and basis of study for the professional artist: especially adapted to the use of public and private schools, as well as home instruction.
(1870 [1873 printing])
Chapter IX. Etching and engraving, pp. -278
254 ETOHING. and accuracy of execution, and in various other ways assisting to a knowledge and command of the principles of design, the art and practice of Etching deserves much higher estimation, and earlier trial by learners, than it is generally imagined to merit. The process is most simple. Any one who can draw can etch; and in many respects it may be even easier to produce a finished and effective result by the etching-point than by either the pen or penciL 2. An etching is but a drawing made with steel points or needles, set in convenient handlea (which are held and managed as a pen or pencil), upon a plate of metal over which there has been previously laid a black varnish, or ground. The metal, laid bare by these points in lines marked with great distinctness, from the strong contrast of the bright metal against the dark ground, affords the artist the utmost advantage, in both the progress of his work and in forming a correct judgment of its effect- notwithstanding that the lines appear light and the ground dark. This, in some respects like drawing upon a slate, may be found at first embarrassing, but with a little prac- tice as perfect a command of lines,thus expressed, is ac- quired as it they were shown in black. The drawing completed, over the whole is poured a corro- ding acid, which takes effect upon the metal exposed by the lines of the drawing, and is resisted by the ground in such parts as remain untouched. The process of corrosion being properly conducted, the ground is then removed, and the lines of the drawing are found to be eaten, or, as it is tech- nically termed, "bitten in" the metal, to a depth ~apable of holding printers' ink. The plate is then covered with such ink, which is wiped off in a manner to leave all the lines full, while such parts as were protected from the action of the acid by the ground, or varnish, remain clean. By means of i rolling-press the plate, thus charged with the design, delivers it with the utmost fidelity to paper, and with a capacity of repetition to thousands of perfectly similar impressions, according to the character of the work, and the nature of the metal employed. 3. That an art so simple in its process should not be more generally practised than it is, by both artists and amateurs, can only be accounted for by the unnecessary amount of ditlicultiea which is commonly imagined to be involved in its successful management, while there is nothing, in truth, therein, to place proficiency beyond the reach of easy attainment by any one skilful in drawing, and especially with the pen. To artists the etching-needle supplies a means of meeting, in a most efficient manner, the extensive requirement which exists for design in literary illustra-
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