line engraving

Line engraving is a printmaking technique where a design is incised into a metal plate, typically copper, using a sharp tool called a burin. This process creates a linear mark, and variations in line depth produce different tonal effects through techniques like parallel lines or crosshatching.12

The technique originated in Germany and Italy around the mid-15th century, initially developed by goldsmiths. While it was used for original artworks by masters like Albrecht Dürer, it later became predominantly a reproductive medium for paintings. Line engraving is a form of intaglio printing, meaning the ink is held in the incised lines below the plate's surface and transferred to paper under high pressure. This method is known for its precision and is still used today, particularly for security printing like bank notes and stamps, due to its resistance to counterfeiting.213