A burin is a metal tool with a sharp beveled point used in the intaglio printmaking process, particularly in engraving. The burin’s shape does not make it suitable for holding like a pencil; instead, the wooden part of the burin is held in the palm of the hand while the index finger is placed on the metal bar for support. During the engraving process, the burin itself remains still. The engraver applies pressure to the copper plate while rotating it, which creates curved lines on its surface. Claes Jansz. Visscher’s Biblical Scene, Albrecht Dürer’s Der Liebensantrag (The Proposal), and Marcantonio Raimondi’s (after Dürer) The Expulsion from Paradise, are all examples of the prints that utilize burins.
Written by Vianka Palacios, edited by Simone Edgar Holmes
Bibliography
ExpertVillage Leaf Group. Intaglio Printmaking Tools: Marking With An Intaglio Burin. 2008. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uThLqmV2PLo.
