This richly illustrated standard work offers a comprehensive introduction to the history, techniques and practice of printmaking. Wechsler begins with a discussion of printmaking and the status of the original print as an independent work of art. He then discusses the most important historical and technical processes, including woodcut, wood engraving, Japanese woodblock printing, chiaroscuro woodcut, line etching, niello, drypoint, etching, aquatint, mezzotint, lithography, screen printing, monotype and cliché-verre. Alongside the technical explanations, he examines themes and developments in printmaking and the work of important printmakers. A separate section serves as a practical guide for collectors, explaining print states, signing and numbering, reprints, reproductions, catalogues, authenticity, valuation, conservation and the framing of prints. With its large format and extensive series of plates, the book is both a historical introduction and a useful reference work for enthusiasts and collectors of printmaking. (AI-generated content description)