The engraving tool, called a burin, ends in a V-shaped edge which gouges directly into the plate surface. With it the artist gouges away strips of the plate surface, the resulting grooves holding the ink. By altering the pressure of the burin the engraver can vary the depth and thickness of the grooves, achieving subtle changes in the tonality of the print. As with drypoint, there is no etching involved. Contemporary French artists Philippe Mohlitz and Jacques Muron demonstrate the great precision and subtlety of line that is essence of engraving.
ENGRAVING
