Worshipper in a Dark Church 6

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Description:

Original etching in black ink on paper of a woman kneeling to pray at an inclined bench. Her hair is covered and her hands are clasped as she looks down with closed eyes. An unclear object in the upper right corner may be a stained glass window. The environment the woman is presented in is very dark. Eighteen etchings complete this series of, "Worshipper in a Dark Church."

Etching is a printmaking method used by the old masters, developed by Daniel Hopfer in the early 16th century. A metal plate of copper, zinc, or steel is coated in a layer of acid resisitant wax. The artist then uses a pointed etching needle to carve away the wax, exposing the metal. When submerged in acid, the exposed areas of metal dissolve leaving indents in the plate. When the wax is removed and ink is applied, the artist has a plate from which numerous identical prints can be made.