The Etching Revival describes a pivotal period in printmaking history, spanning roughly 1850 to 1930, during which etching was elevated from a largely commercial and reproductive medium to a recognised fine art form. Led by figures such as James McNeill Whistler and supported by institutions like the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers (founded 1880), the movement encouraged wide experimentation with technique, including soft-ground etching and aquatint, and embraced an unusually broad range of subjects, from portraiture and landscape to social commentary. Its influence extended across Britain, Europe and America, and the period remains a significant chapter in the history of works on paper.
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