etching
n. C / Un. a picture made by using acid to cut a design into a metal plate. You then use the plate to print the image onto paper.
n. a printmaking process, or the resulting print, produced by using acid to incise a design into a metal plate. The plate is coated with a protective wax, which the artist scratches through before immersing the metal in an acid bath.
She bought a beautiful etching of the city skyline.
The gallery is hosting an exhibition of 18th-century etchings that show the daily life of local farmers.
The artist's mastery is evident in this etching, where the varying depths of the lines create a sophisticated play of light and shadow that woodcuts cannot easily replicate.
Uncountable when referring to the artistic technique; countable when referring to a specific piece of art.