About The Artist:
Gabriel Perelle
Gabriel Perelle (1604-1677) was one of a French family of artists. He studied drawing with Daniel Rabel. He started making etchings in 1635; his first plates showed the influence of Flemish landscape artists. About 1655 his work began to evolve toward depicting nature in a more dramatic aspect, animated by waterfalls and buildings. Although he etched some prints after other artists, he mainly worked from his own drawings. His many landscapes,...
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About The Medium:
Etching
The printing process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio (incised) in the metal. In traditional pure etching, a metal (usually copper, zinc or steel) plate is covered with a waxy ground which is resistant to acid. The artist then scratches off the ground with a pointed etching needle where they want a line to appear in the finished piece, exposing the bare metal. The plate is then put through a high-pressure printing press together with a sheet of paper (often moistened to soften it). The paper picks up the ink from the etched lines, making a print.