Shading Brush
1920-27 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Etchers use needles similar to the tools used for making drypoints. They don’t scratch into the metal plate but draw their design through etching ground to expose the metal below. The plate is placed into a bath of acid, which eats away the exposed areas of the plate, etching the drawn design into the plate, which is then inked for printing.
Artists sometimes make their own tools. The improvised shading brush here allowed multiple lines to be drawn using a single motion.
Artists sometimes make their own tools. The improvised shading brush here allowed multiple lines to be drawn using a single motion.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Wood, tape and plastic and steel, printmaking tool |
| Brief description | Shading brush used in etching by Sir Henry Harding Cunynghame (1848-1935) |
| Physical description | Shading brush used in etching, made of 24 needles taped to a wood and plastic handle |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Sir Henry Cunynghame |
| Object history | The series of 12 etchings (E.1352 to 1363-1927) by Henry Cunynghame were donated as specimens of the work produced using his custom-made etching point E.1350-1927 and the shading brush E.1351-1927 that he also donated. |
| Summary | Etchers use needles similar to the tools used for making drypoints. They don’t scratch into the metal plate but draw their design through etching ground to expose the metal below. The plate is placed into a bath of acid, which eats away the exposed areas of the plate, etching the drawn design into the plate, which is then inked for printing. Artists sometimes make their own tools. The improvised shading brush here allowed multiple lines to be drawn using a single motion. |
| Bibliographic reference | Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1927, London: Board of Education, 1928. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.1351-1927 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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