Etchings

In art history, etchings have had a huge impact, especially on printmaking. Etchings, recognized as fine art since the 15th century, have a history of challenging conventional thinking. Throughout history, various etching techniques have been employed by artists to achieve completely different effects. The medium has always been used as a means to push the boundaries of contemporary art, as evidenced by Albrecht Dürer's revolutionary Knight, Death, and the Devil as well as Francisco Goya's infamous War Disasters series. Explore and place your bids in our online auctions of original vintage and antique etchings for sale at Bidsquare.

Among the intaglio printing methods, etching, along with engraving, mezzotint, and aquatint, is thought to have originated from the decoration of metal armor in Northern Europe during the 15th century. As a printmaking medium, etching quickly rivaled engraving due to its relative simplicity. One of the oldest forms of illustration, etching involves engraving images on soft metal and then transferring them onto paper. It was the Swiss artist Urs Graf who created the first dated etching in 1513 using iron plates. At about the same time, five etchings were made by Albrecht Dürer, a prolific German graphic artist. With Albrecht Dürer, engraving reached its pinnacle with its precise and tapered lines. His "Cannon" depicts the spontaneity and flowing lines in etching that were not yet valued in northern Europe. Rembrandt was the first and perhaps greatest master of pure etching, who harnessed the similarity of the medium to pencil or pen drawing. The artist produced more than 300 etchings with remarkable skill, conveying light, air, and space with a sense of freedom inherent in the medium.

In the late nineteenth century, many printmakers experimented with color etchings. It was previously only possible to etch in black-and-white, so this explosion of color was something of a revolution in the etching medium. Printmakers with more experience and skill attempted color etchings first since it was technically complex and time-consuming. But as time passed, artists with less experience could also seek the assistance of printers like Eugène Delâtre.

Many artists used etching throughout the 19th century, and several prominent artists took up the technique with renewed enthusiasm in the 20th century. One of the most prominent of these is Pablo Picasso, whose Cubist ideas were first realized through etching, which he then utilized in his "classical" period to exploit its purity of line. David Hockney and Marc Chagall also created a great deal of work in this medium, as did Henri Matisse, Georges Rouault, Stanley Hayter, and Joan Miró.

Quick Facts about Etchings

  • Each plate can only produce a limited number of prints because the plate wears down with each use. 
  • As etchings are not mass-produced, they have an air of exclusivity that is not found in original art.
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  • Guillaume Azoulay- Etching
    Estimate
    $804 - $1,005

    Guillaume Azoulay- Etching

    Est.
    $804 - $1,005
    Robinhood Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $335
  • Guillaume Azoulay- Etching
    Estimate
    $540 - $675

    Guillaume Azoulay- Etching

    Est.
    $540 - $675
    Robinhood Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $225
  • Guillaume Azoulay- Etching
    Estimate
    $540 - $675

    Guillaume Azoulay- Etching

    Est.
    $540 - $675
    Robinhood Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $225
  • B.F. Ford - Untitled Etching
    Estimate
    $400 - $500

    B.F. Ford - Untitled Etching

    Est.
    $400 - $500
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $150
  • Guillaume Azoulay- Original Etching
    Estimate
    $900 - $1,125

    Guillaume Azoulay- Original Etching

    Est.
    $900 - $1,125
    Robinhood Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $225
  • Guillaume Azoulay- Original Etching
    Estimate
    $1,100 - $1,375

    Guillaume Azoulay- Original Etching

    Est.
    $1,100 - $1,375
    Robinhood Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $275
  • B.F. Ford - Untitled Etching II
    Estimate
    $400 - $500

    B.F. Ford - Untitled Etching II

    Est.
    $400 - $500
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $150
  • Jonathan Hammer- Limited Edition Etching on paper
    Estimate
    $280 - $350

    Jonathan Hammer- Limited Edition Etching on paper

    Est.
    $280 - $350
    Robinhood Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $220
  • Jonathan Hammer- Limited Edition Etching on paper
    Estimate
    $280 - $350

    Jonathan Hammer- Limited Edition Etching on paper

    Est.
    $280 - $350
    Robinhood Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $220
  • Leroy Neiman - Original Etching from Hockey Suite
    Estimate
    $3,500 - $5,000

    Leroy Neiman - Original Etching from Hockey Suite

    Est.
    $3,500 - $5,000
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $1,500
  • Leroy Neiman - Original Etching from Baseball Suite
    Estimate
    $1,500 - $2,000

    Leroy Neiman - Original Etching from Baseball Suite

    Est.
    $1,500 - $2,000
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $550
  • Guillaume Azoulay- Vintage limited edition etching on paper
    Estimate
    $588 - $735

    Guillaume Azoulay- Vintage limited edition etching on p...

    Est.
    $588 - $735
    Robinhood Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $245
  • Guillaume Azoulay- Vintage limited edition etching on paper
    Estimate
    $588 - $735

    Guillaume Azoulay- Vintage limited edition etching on p...

    Est.
    $588 - $735
    Robinhood Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $245
  • Guillaume Azoulay- Original Etching "L'ARLECCHINO"
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $1,250

    Guillaume Azoulay- Original Etching "L'ARLECCHINO"

    Est.
    $1,000 - $1,250
    Robinhood Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $250
  • Guillaume Azoulay- Vintage etching on paper with hand laid gold leaf
    Estimate
    $1,120 - $1,400

    Guillaume Azoulay- Vintage etching on paper with hand l...

    Est.
    $1,120 - $1,400
    Robinhood Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $320
  • Guillaume Azoulay- 1/1 Etching with Hand coloring and gold leaf "Le Gard Cirque"
    Estimate
    $800 - $1,000

    Guillaume Azoulay- 1/1 Etching with Hand coloring and g...

    Est.
    $800 - $1,000
    Robinhood Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $590
  • Pepe le Pew Framed Limited Edition Etching with Hand Tinted Color from Warner Bros., Numbered with Letter of Authenticity
    Estimate
    $120 - $150

    Pepe le Pew Framed Limited Edition Etching with Hand Ti...

    Est.
    $120 - $150
    Robinhood Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $50
  • Edgar Degas (after) - Portrait of the Engraver Joseph
    Estimate
    $2,500 - $3,500

    Edgar Degas (after) - Portrait of the Engraver Joseph

    Est.
    $2,500 - $3,500
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $225
  • Samuel Palmer - The Early Ploughman
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $1,500

    Samuel Palmer - The Early Ploughman

    Est.
    $1,000 - $1,500
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $350
  • Pierre Billet - Les Laveuses
    Estimate
    $300 - $400

    Pierre Billet - Les Laveuses

    Est.
    $300 - $400
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $100
  • Louis Icart - Arrival
    Estimate
    $1,500 - $2,000

    Louis Icart - Arrival

    Est.
    $1,500 - $2,000
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $600
  • Louis Icart - The Coach
    Estimate
    $2,000 - $3,000

    Louis Icart - The Coach

    Est.
    $2,000 - $3,000
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $800
  • Louis Icart - Guest Poodle
    Estimate
    $5,000 - $7,000

    Louis Icart - Guest Poodle

    Est.
    $5,000 - $7,000
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $1,200
  • Louis Icart - Lounging
    Estimate
    $2,500 - $3,500

    Louis Icart - Lounging

    Est.
    $2,500 - $3,500
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $800
  • Henri Matisse (1869-1945): Marguerite, les yeux fermes
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $1,500

    Henri Matisse (1869-1945): Marguerite, les yeux fermes

    Est.
    $1,000 - $1,500
    STAIR
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $500
  • Henri Matisse (1869-1945): Nu assise
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $1,500

    Henri Matisse (1869-1945): Nu assise

    Est.
    $1,000 - $1,500
    STAIR
    2 Bids
    Current Bid
    $1,200
  • Henri Matisse (1869-1945): Cinquant dessins
    Estimate
    $2,000 - $3,000

    Henri Matisse (1869-1945): Cinquant dessins

    Est.
    $2,000 - $3,000
    STAIR
    1 Bid
    Current Bid
    $1,000
  • Henri Matisse (1869-1945): Nu assise
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $1,500

    Henri Matisse (1869-1945): Nu assise

    Est.
    $1,000 - $1,500
    STAIR
    1 Bid
    Current Bid
    $500
  • Henri Matisse (1869-1945): Cinquant dessins
    Estimate
    $2,000 - $3,000

    Henri Matisse (1869-1945): Cinquant dessins

    Est.
    $2,000 - $3,000
    STAIR
    1 Bid
    Current Bid
    $1,000
  • Henri Matisse (1869-1945): Cinquant dessins
    Estimate
    $2,000 - $3,000

    Henri Matisse (1869-1945): Cinquant dessins

    Est.
    $2,000 - $3,000
    STAIR
    1 Bid
    Current Bid
    $1,000
  • James Rosenquist (1933-2017): Star Leg
    Estimate
    $700 - $900

    James Rosenquist (1933-2017): Star Leg

    Est.
    $700 - $900
    STAIR
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $350
  • Henri Matisse (1869-1945): Figure lisant, fond mou charabieh
    Estimate
    $2,000 - $4,000

    Henri Matisse (1869-1945): Figure lisant, fond mou char...

    Est.
    $2,000 - $4,000
    STAIR
    1 Bid
    Current Bid
    $1,000
  • Louis Icart - Nude Bottom
    Estimate
    $5,000 - $7,000

    Louis Icart - Nude Bottom

    Est.
    $5,000 - $7,000
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $2,000
  • Henri Matisse (1869-1945): Nu accroupi sur banquette rayée
    Estimate
    $1,500 - $2,500

    Henri Matisse (1869-1945): Nu accroupi sur banquette ra...

    Est.
    $1,500 - $2,500
    STAIR
    1 Bid
    Current Bid
    $700
  • Henri Matisse (1869-1945): La Main
    Estimate
    $1,500 - $2,500

    Henri Matisse (1869-1945): La Main

    Est.
    $1,500 - $2,500
    STAIR
    2 Bids
    Current Bid
    $800
  • Henri Matisse (1869-1945): Nu couche
    Estimate
    $1,500 - $2,500

    Henri Matisse (1869-1945): Nu couche

    Est.
    $1,500 - $2,500
    STAIR
    1 Bid
    Current Bid
    $700
  • Henri Matisse (1869-1945): Jeune homme - masque
    Estimate
    $1,500 - $2,500

    Henri Matisse (1869-1945): Jeune homme - masque

    Est.
    $1,500 - $2,500
    STAIR
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $700
  • Alfred Sisley - Paysage
    Estimate
    $1,500 - $2,000

    Alfred Sisley - Paysage

    Est.
    $1,500 - $2,000
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $500
  • Alex Katz - Affair
    Estimate
    $500 - $750

    Alex Katz - Affair

    Est.
    $500 - $750
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $250
  • Alex Katz - Song for Connie
    Estimate
    $500 - $750

    Alex Katz - Song for Connie

    Est.
    $500 - $750
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $250
  • Pierre Bonnard - Portait of Auguste Renoir
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $1,500

    Pierre Bonnard - Portait of Auguste Renoir

    Est.
    $1,000 - $1,500
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $550
  • Arthur Beecher Carles - Untitled
    Estimate
    $800 - $1,100

    Arthur Beecher Carles - Untitled

    Est.
    $800 - $1,100
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $200
  • Pierre-August Renoir "Baigneuse Assise"
    Estimate
    $6,000 - $9,000

    Pierre-August Renoir "Baigneuse Assise"

    Est.
    $6,000 - $9,000
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $2,600
  • James Rizzi - Young Audiences
    Estimate
    $2,000 - $3,000

    James Rizzi - Young Audiences

    Est.
    $2,000 - $3,000
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $1,000
  • Berthe Morisot - Canard
    Estimate
    $1,500 - $2,000

    Berthe Morisot - Canard

    Est.
    $1,500 - $2,000
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $550
  • Edouard Manet "Odalisque"
    Estimate
    $2,500 - $3,000

    Edouard Manet "Odalisque"

    Est.
    $2,500 - $3,000
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $1,600
  • Bernard Buffet - Le Canal
    Estimate
    $2,000 - $3,000

    Bernard Buffet - Le Canal

    Est.
    $2,000 - $3,000
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $800
  • Emile Nolde - Tischgesellschaft
    Estimate
    $6,000 - $8,000

    Emile Nolde - Tischgesellschaft

    Est.
    $6,000 - $8,000
    Dane Fine Art
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $2,000