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How did Dutch artists use diamond-point engraving on glass during the 17th century?

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fish of core-made glass — glassware Fish of core-made glass with “combed” decoration, Egyptian, New Kingdom, 18th dynasty (c. 1363–46 bc). In the British Museum. 0.141 m × .069 m.

In the 17th century, Dutch artists utilized diamond-point engraving to create delicate, intricate designs on glass, moving away from the stiff, formal styles of the previous century toward greater suppleness and detail.1

The practice was widely adopted by talented amateurs, including notable humanists such as Anna Roemers Visscher and Anna Maria van Schurman. These artists frequently decorated glassware with finely drawn flowers and insects, often incorporating epigrams in Latin or Greek. Their work utilized either precise, severe lettering or the free-scrolled style characteristic of contemporary Italianate writing masters.1

As the century progressed, the technique evolved in its approach to shading:
* Early 17th Century: Artists shifted from simple linear clarity toward crosshatched chiaroscuro effects, using opaque spots to create highlights.1
* Late 17th Century: Engravers like Willem Mooleyser employed a more vigorous, "scribbled" freedom in their work.1

By the end of the 17th century, this style of diamond-point engraving was largely superseded in popularity by wheel engraving.1