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Copperplate engraving

Copperplate engraving is a process for intaglio printmaking and incising a design on a hard surface. The surface of a copper plate (1-3 mm thick) is smoothed before engraving and coated with a thin layer of varnish, chalk, soot or wax. The drawing is done in mirror-image on this layer, then the lines are incised in the metal with a graver or burin. Metal shavings are removed. Surfaces are created with densely juxtaposed lines. The ridges thrown up on both sides of the incised furrows are removed (unlike drypoint etching) with a scraper although they can be left to create particular effects in the print. Before printing takes place, the plate is heated, covered with ink. The warm ink seeps into the finest of depressions and fills the lines and textures of the drawing. The rest of the plate is cleaned off. The copper plate is now pressed with a printing press on to moistened paper which soaks up the ink from the depressions in the plate. The copperplate-engraving technique is very exacting, time-consuming and exhausting for the engraver, who needs a lot of strength for it. It took Albrecht Dürer more than three months to execute the celebrated copperplate engraving "Knight, Death and Devil". Characteristic features of copperplate engravings are fine lines, richness of detail, soft contrasts (unlike the woodcut); nevertheless, there are no actual gradations of tone. Viewing with a magnifying glass reveals that the line begins as fine as a hair, then swells, only to become thin again. This line typical of the copperplate engraving is called taille in French. There is no shading from a ridge as in drypoint. The edges of he lines are smooth whereas the edges of lines in etching are rough - due to biting in acid. The technique of copperplate engraving was probably first used ca 1430 in upper Germany; after the woodcut it is the second oldest printmaking technique. At that time the copperplate engraving provided a relatively economical reproducing method. In the 15th century the copperplate was discovered as an autonomous means of expression. Martin Schongauer made the technique famous but it reached a first pinnacle in the work of Albrecht Dürer, who had learned copperplate engraving from Schongauer and later revolutionised it. In the 16th century the copperplate engraving process was rationalised and mass reproduction became possible. The heyday of the copperplate engraving was the Baroque period. Peter Paul Rubens employed numerous copperplate engravers to make graphic reproductions of his paintings. They were bound as catalogues and sent throughout Europe to advertise his workshop. Towards the close of the 18th century the copperplate engraving was replaced by the wood engraving, which represented a less expensive reproduction technique. Leading exponents of the copperplate engraving included:
Heinrich Aldegrever (1502-1555)
Jost Amman (1539-1591)
Gian Giacomo Caraglio (1500-1570)
Daniel Chodowiecki (1726-1801)
Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
Francisco de Goya (1746-1828)
Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945)
Lucas van Leyden (1494-1533)
Israhel van Meckenem (1440-1503)
Matthias Merian (1593-1650)
Marcantonio Raimondi (1475-1534)
Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (1606-1669)
Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640)
Martin Schongauer (1450-1491)
Christoff Weigel the Elder (1654-1725)

Current Offers for: Copperplate engraving

Rouault, G.

Georges Rouault - Famille des Saltimbanques

Sale 347 - Oct. 24/25., 08
Lot 411 - in 23 days
Engraving 1905
2,500 EUR / 3,550 $
Place Bids
Details

Aldegrever, H.

Heinrich Aldegrever - Albert van der Helle

Sale 346 - Oct. 25, 08
Lot 1250 - in 24 days
Engraving 1538
2,400 EUR / 3,408 $
Place Bids
Details

Schleswig-
Holstein

not available

Sale 348 - Nov. 17, 08
Lot 410805932 - in 47 days
Coloured copper engraving 1660
1,800 EUR / 2,556 $
Place Bids
Details in German

Dürer, Albrecht

Albrecht Dürer - St. Christophorus, nach rechts schauend

Sale 346 - Oct. 25, 08
Lot 1282 - in 24 days
Engraving 1521
1,500 EUR / 2,130 $
Place Bids
Details

Bowen, Emanuel

not available

Sale 348 - Nov. 17, 08
Lot 410803820 - in 47 days
Coloured copper engraving 1777
1,500 EUR / 2,130 $
Place Bids
Details in German

Felixmüller, C.

Conrad Felixmüller - Der Sohn (Meine Frau und mein Sohn)

Sale 347 - Oct. 24/25., 08
Lot 164 - in 23 days
Engraving 1919
1,400 EUR / 1,988 $
Place Bids
Details

Blumen und Pflanzen

not available

Sale 348 - Nov. 17, 08
Lot 410805270 - in 47 days
Coloured copper engraving 1613
1,200 EUR / 1,704 $
Place Bids
Details in German

Saenredam, Jan

Jan Saenredam - 2 Blätter: Patientia. Scientia

Sale 346 - Oct. 25, 08
Lot 1335 - in 24 days
Engraving 1590
1,000 EUR / 1,420 $
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Details

Beham

Hans Sebald Beham - Die vier Evangelisten

Sale 346 - Oct. 25, 08
Lot 1252 - in 24 days
Engraving 1541
1,000 EUR / 1,420 $
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Details

Schleswig-
Holstein

not available

Sale 348 - Nov. 17, 08
Lot 410805944 - in 47 days
Coloured copper engraving 1630
1,000 EUR / 1,420 $
Place Bids
Details in German

Wierix, Johan

Johan Wierix - Die Vier Elemente

Sale 346 - Oct. 25, 08
Lot 1359 - in 24 days
Engraving 1601
800 EUR / 1,136 $
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Details

Dänemark

not available

Sale 348 - Nov. 17, 08
Lot 410805942 - in 47 days
Coloured copper engraving 1676
800 EUR / 1,136 $
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Details in German

Weltkarte

not available

Sale 348 - Nov. 17, 08
Lot 410804153 - in 47 days
Coloured copper engraving 1752
600 EUR / 852 $
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Details in German

Ghisi gen. Mantuano

Giorgio Ghisi gen. Mantuano - Cupido und Psyche

Sale 346 - Oct. 25, 08
Lot 1291 - in 24 days
Engraving 1574
600 EUR / 852 $
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Details

Asien

not available

Sale 348 - Nov. 17, 08
Lot 410804943 - in 47 days
Coloured copper engraving 1580
600 EUR / 852 $
Place Bids
Details in German


More Current Offers: 59








Sold lots

Runge

Philipp Otto Runge - 4 Bll. in: Die Vier Tageszeiten (Die Zeiten)

Sale 267 - May 08, 02
Lot 327
Engraving
64,400 EUR / 91,448 $
sold
Details in German

Runge

Philipp Otto Runge - Die Vier Tageszeiten (Die Zeiten)

Sale 304 - Oct. 28, 06
Lot 474
Engraving 1803
44,030 EUR / 62,522 $
sold
Details

Dürer, Albrecht

Albrecht Dürer - Adam und Eva

Sale 326 - Oct. 27, 07
Lot 1045
Engraving 1504
38,400 EUR / 54,528 $
sold
Details

Homann

Johann Baptist Homann - Atlas novus ... Grosser Atlas über die gantze Welt (1716)

Sale 301 - May 22/23., 06
Lot 597
Coloured copper engraving 1716
26,180 EUR / 37,175 $
sold
Details in German

Welt und Kontinente

Johann Baptist Welt und Kontinente - Weltkarte und 4 Erdteilkarten.

Sale 309 - May 21/22., 07
Lot 44
Coloured copper engraving 1635
19,200 EUR / 27,264 $
sold
Details

Dürer, Albrecht

Albrecht Dürer - Der Reiter (Ritter, Tod und Teufel)

Sale 326 - Oct. 27, 07
Lot 1049
Engraving 1513
16,800 EUR / 23,856 $
sold
Details

-

Sale 301 - May 22/23., 06
Lot 607
Coloured copper engraving 1800
11,067 EUR / 15,715 $
sold
Details in German

Dürer, Albrecht

Albrecht Dürer - Der heilige Eustachius (St. Hubertus)

Sale 326 - Oct. 27, 07
Lot 1046
Engraving
8,400 EUR / 11,928 $
sold
Details

-

Sale 294 - May 23/24., 05
Lot 417
Coloured copper engraving 1912
7,722 EUR / 10,965 $
sold
Details in German

Seutter, M.

Matthäus Seutter - Atlas compendiosus.

Sale 296 - Nov. 21/22., 05
Lot 459
Coloured copper engraving 1740
7,140 EUR / 10,138 $
sold
Details in German