Misfortune

Method: Push engraving

Matrix: Zinc

Printing Ink: Gamblin Bone Black Etching Ink

Paper: Hahnemuhle Copperplate Warm White

Size: 6.7 cm x 11.8 cm

Year: 2022-2023

Description: This print started out as a sketch study of an engraving by Albrecht Dürer in 1495-1496 named The Little Fortune. I liked the sketch so much that I decided to try and make an engraving of it, putting my own twist on the theme, changing the head to a goat and changing the flower to a begonia, symbolizing bad luck or misfortune.

misfortune final web

final state, edition of 20

Fortune| Albrecht Dürer

original engraving by Albrecht Dürer

Misfortune Zinc Matrix

Shown above is the zinc matrix used to print the image. A burin, a.k.a. graver, was used to carve into the zinc. Next the plate was inked, ink wiped off the surface, leaving ink in the carved lines. Finally, it was ran through a printing press, applying heavy pressure to pull the ink out of the carved lines onto the paper.

misfortune orig sketch web

original sketch

misfortune chine colle

chine collé version, edition of 5, printed in 2023