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 CHAPTER VI

LINE ENGRAVING—THE EARLY MASTERS

The technique of line engraving—The early Italian school—Albert Dürer and the German school—Lucas van Leyden and the Dutch school—Early work in England.

The Technique.—In pure line engraving only the graver is used and etching is not employed in the outline. But a great number of plates are slightly etched before being worked upon by the graver. In line engraving a plate preferably and usually of copper is used, and into the highly-polished surface of this copper the design is cut with the tool known as the graver or burin. This is a prism-shaped bar of steel with a sharp point, having a wooden handle which rests in the engraver's hand, the motion being applied by means of his palm, and directed by his thumb and forefinger, which rest on each side of the graver towards the point. This tool, as the engraver uses it on the face of the metal in producing the furrow, dislodges a thin strip of metal. With a