Etchings

A beautifully designed visual and technical history of etching as a means of artistic expression.

The third title in the Thames & Hudson/V&A printmaking series, this captivating visual history of etching celebrates the versatility of the printmaking technique – from aquatint to photo etching – through the work of artists such as Dürer, Rembrandt, Elisabeth Frink, David Hockney and Chris Ofili. The diverse uses of etched images over the centuries – in applied craftwork, for political caricature, and to address contemporary issues of cultural diversity and climate change – reveal our shifting perceptions of the medium.

From its 16th-century origins to its development as an expressive artistic practice in the 20th and 21st centuries, etching continues to be an image-making technique of powerful relevance today.