What are engravings? Engravings of old (photo)

What are engravings? This question interests many. Some have a sonorous foreign word associated with the depiction of a biblical story on a metal or stone board, others believe that this is just a picture cut out with a knife on the surface of the table.

Nevertheless, the question: "What is engraving?" - it is impossible to answer unequivocally, because the technologies for creating drawings are quite complex. But one thing can be said with certainty. Engraving is a special kind of graphic art, in which there are outstanding artists and unsurpassed masters.

Engraving technique

The art of painting does not imply any technical means, except for a set of art brushes, a palette and an easel. Another matter - engravings, which require a multistage technical preparation, with a lot of trial attempts. But then why is it necessary? Is not it easier to draw a picture and not waste time and effort on its multiple copying. Moreover, genuine visual art does not tolerate repetition. However, this principle does not work here. The effect of engraving is its unusual, the structure of the picture is fascinating.

Graphic images obtained by printing are called "prints". However, a print is an impression from any original, and an engraving is an imprint from an etched board. What is engraving in terms of manufacturing technology? Simple manipulations, during which it is necessary to press a sheet of paper against a board on which the paint was previously applied. Then this sheet is neatly separated from the board - and the engraving is ready.

Metal and wood

The art of engraving is not in the print, but in the manufacture of the original, from which you can then make any number of copies. The stronger the material from which the "board" is made, the more impressions you can get. There are two types of engraving: high and deep printing. The first way is to cut the original artwork in a mirror image, so that the paint is transferred to the paper from the outer surface of the cut out pattern. And the second method provides that the paint will pass to the paper sheet from the filled with it depressions on the "board."

Art originated in the 15th century, has since been repeatedly modified. Engraving boards were originally made of sheet copper, as the most soft metal. Later appeared xylographic technology, according to which the board was cut from hard wood. This method was less laborious, besides, it was possible to create multicolored prints. To do this, it was necessary to make several boards with different arrangement of the elements of the picture. The sheet was applied alternately to each board, with an intermediate drying, resulting in an image obtained in color.

Engravings

Prints became widespread in the 15th century. The most valuable engravings were created at the same time, in the workshops of German artists Martin Schongauer and Albrecht Durer. Italians Andrea Mantegna and Antonio Pollajolo did not lag behind them.

In the 16th century, the art of the artistic impression was widely recognized, in Europe the engraving was elevated to the rank of high art, mainly thanks to Durer's masterpieces such as "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," "The Coat of Death," and "Melancholy."

The end of the 16th century was marked by a breakthrough in the art engraving, simple drawings became a thing of the past, expressive plastics appeared, the cutting technologies became much more complicated, parallel and cross-hatching made it possible to achieve fantastic results in achieving a three-dimensional effect in the game of chiaroscuro. The figure acquired signs of refinement, which served as an incentive for further improvement of the techniques.

Development of engraving

Artists began to apply etching of the metal base and received the technology of etching, which flourished in full force only in the 17th century. Brilliant portraitist Rembrandt also engaged in engravings and achieved significant success in this field. The artist Jean Cullo completely devoted his life to the art of engraving and created a whole gallery of portraits of his contemporaries. Claude Lorrain was carried away by translating his paintings into engravings. And Rubens organized a special workshop, in which he reproduced his paintings.

Popularity

The 17th century was the golden time for the development of new art - engraving and etching. The list of genres in which artists worked, everything expanded. It was portraits and landscapes, pastorales, battle scenes, still lifes, animals and inhabitants of the sea depths. Many artists of that time revered for the honor of trying their hand at the art of engraving. There were whole albums, united thematically, according to the plot and artistic sign. In an instant the satirical etchings of Hogarth, miniatures of Khodovetsky, a series of engravings by Francisco Goya became famous.

Art of engraving in Japan

The country of the Rising Sun, known for its artistic traditions, did not stand aside. Japanese engraving is a whole layer of culture Country, part of its national fine arts. The history of the first impressions of "Ukiyo-e" goes back to the 17th century. Then the Japanese engraving printed in black and white. In the early 18th century, artists introduced a color seal, and "Ukiyo-e" was transformed.

Engravings in Japan were inexpensive and enjoyed steady demand. They depicted scenes from the life of ordinary people. This is primarily beautiful geisha (this was the main theme), then came the wrestlers of sumo, and in the third place were the famous actors of the Kabuki Theater. After some time, landscape engraving came into fashion.

Protection of particularly valuable specimens

The most famous etchings, both old and those made in recent times, are systematized. The engraving, the photo of which is available to the public, has its registration number and, as a rule, is registered. This is necessary to ensure that its artistic value remains inviolable. Rare specimens, such as the masterpieces of Albrecht Durer, are under the protection of UNESCO. World-famous or especially valuable engraving, photos and reproductions of which are placed in special Interpol reference books, are protected by special services.

Modernity

In the early 20th century, the development of engraving as an art form continued. Under Soviet rule, a whole generation of talented artists emerged who successfully created etchings and prints in the field. During this period, the engraving survived its next take-off, the picture became even more complicated, its expressiveness came to its culmination. In the 1930s, a Russian, and then Soviet, school of engraving was formed, represented by talented artists, as well as their students. The prospect of further development of etching art loomed rosy. Then, already in the prewar years, the engraving became a poster, and its popularity declined noticeably.

After the Great Patriotic War, for almost 20 years, prints were issued only as a means of inexpensive but effective Soviet propaganda. At present, the art of engraving is in a state of some stagnation, there are no new enthusiasts, and older artists are engaged in commercial projects. Although today on the question of what prints are, any Russian is able to give an exhaustive answer. Perhaps in the future there will be new types of engravings, because art has the property of reborn in new forms.