What is an original etching?

An original etching is a print produced during the first production run of a print series. After making an etching plate, an artist will create a limited number of etchings. Collectively, these prints are the original etchings. They differ from restrike etchings made years later, sometimes after the death of the artist. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of etchings.

How can you tell if an etching is original?

To tell if an etching is original, first gently run your hand along its surface. An original etching will usually have a slight indentation in the image area left behind by the pressure applied by the plate during the printing process. Next, grab a magnifying glass and view the image up close. On an original, you won't see small dots making up the picture, but many reproductions do display dots due to their printing methods. Finally, look at the signature. Most original etchings will be hand-signed. If the signature is printed on your piece, it may be a reproduction. Consult a certified appraiser or experienced art dealer for an expert opinion on your print. Find a wide variety of etchings on 1stDibs.

Are original etchings worth anything?

Yes, some original etchings are worth something. Original signed prints by Old Masters like Rembrandt and Albrecht Dürer are particularly valuable, as are those made by modern artists such as Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, Martin Lewis and David Hockney. Generally, the artist, age, historical significance, image quality and overall conditions of etchings all contribute to their value. To learn how much your etching may be worth, seek the opinion of a certified appraiser or experienced art dealer. Explore a large collection of etchings on 1stDibs.

Original Etching

Suzanne ValadonWomen and Children by the River - Original Etching Signed (Petrides #E6), 1932

$2,634

Women and Children by the River - Original Etching Signed (Petrides #E6)

By Suzanne Valadon

Located in Paris, IDF

Suzanne VALADON (1865-1938) Women and Children by the River, 1932 Original etching Signed in pencil On BFK Rives vellum 47 x 37 cm (c. 18.5 x 14.5 in) INFORMATION : Printed in 1932...

Category

1930s Academic Nude Prints

Materials

Etching

Henri Piere JametOld Man - Original Etching on Paper by Henri Piere Jamet - 19th Century, 20th century

$458

Old Man - Original Etching on Paper by Henri Piere Jamet - 19th Century

Located in Roma, IT

Old Man is an original etching artwork on paper realized by Henri Piere Jamet (1858-1921).

Category

20th Century Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Paper, Etching

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed - Original Etching - 18th Century, 18th Century

$515

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed - Original Etching - 18th Century

Located in Roma, IT

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed, original etching from the end of the 18th century, made by Various Old Masters.

Category

18th Century Modern Portrait Prints

Materials

Etching

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed - Original Etching - 18th Century, 18th Century

$515

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed - Original Etching - 18th Century

Located in Roma, IT

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed, original etching from the end of the 18th century, made by Various Old Masters.

Category

18th Century Modern Portrait Prints

Materials

Etching

Sandro ChiaOver the Uncommon - Original Etching by Sandro Chia - 1979, 1979

$1,374

Over the Uncommon - Original Etching by Sandro Chia - 1979

By Sandro Chia

Located in Roma, IT

Hand monogrammed and numbered in pencil. Original title: "Sopra l'Insolito". Original etching realized by Chia in 1979.

Category

1970s Contemporary More Prints

Materials

Etching

Sandro ChiaThe Same Day - Original Etching by Sandro Chia - 1979, 1979

$1,031

The Same Day - Original Etching by Sandro Chia - 1979

By Sandro Chia

Located in Roma, IT

Hand monogrammed and numbered in pencil. Original title: "Lo stesso giorno". Original etching realized by Chia in 1979.

Category

1970s Contemporary More Prints

Materials

Etching

Sphinx - Ancient Roman Frescoes - Original Etching - 18th Century, 18th Century

$343

Sphinx - Ancient Roman Frescoes - Original Etching - 18th Century

Located in Roma, IT

Sphinx - Ancient Roman Frescoes, from the series "Antiquities of Herculaneum", is an original etching on paper realized by Anonymous Artist in the 18th century.

Category

18th Century Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Ancient Roman Bas-Relief - Original Etching - 18th Century, Late 18th Century

$229

Ancient Roman Bas-Relief - Original Etching - 18th Century

Located in Roma, IT

Ancient Roman Bas-Reliefs, from the series "Antiquities of Herculaneum", is an original etching on paper realized by Vincenzo Campana in the 18th century.

Category

Late 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Ancient Roman Bas-Reliefs - Original Etching - 18th Century, Late 18th Century

$229

Ancient Roman Bas-Reliefs - Original Etching - 18th Century

Located in Roma, IT

Ancient Roman Statues, from the series "Antiquities of Herculaneum", is an original etching on paper realized by Vincenzo Campana in the 18th century.

Category

Late 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Ancient Roman Bas-Reliefs - Original Etching - 18th Century, Late 18th Century

$229

Ancient Roman Bas-Reliefs - Original Etching - 18th Century

Located in Roma, IT

Ancient Roman Bas-Relief, from the series "Antiquities of Herculaneum", is an original etching on paper realized by Vincenzo Campana in the 18th century.

Category

Late 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed - Original Etching - 18th Century, Late 18th Century

$515

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed - Original Etching - 18th Century

Located in Roma, IT

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed, original etching from the end of the 18th century, made by Various Old Masters.

Category

Late 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed - Original Etching - 18th Century, Late 18th Century

$526

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed - Original Etching - 18th Century

Located in Roma, IT

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed, original etching from the end of the 18th century, made by Various Old Masters.

Category

Late 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed - Original Etching - 18th Century, Late 18th Century

$801

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed - Original Etching - 18th Century

Located in Roma, IT

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed, original etching from the end of the 18th century, made by Various Old Masters.

Category

Late 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed - original Etching - 18th Century, Late 18th Century

$572

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed - original Etching - 18th Century

Located in Roma, IT

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed, original etching from the end of the 18th century, made by Various Old Masters.

Category

Late 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed - Original Etching - 18th Century, Late 18th Century

$549

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed - Original Etching - 18th Century

Located in Roma, IT

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed, original etching from the end of the 18th century, made by Various Old Masters.

Category

Late 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Leo GuidaThe Natural Machine - Original Etching by Leo Guida - 1970s, 1970s

$274

The Natural Machine - Original Etching by Leo Guida - 1970s

By Leo Guida

Located in Roma, IT

Original Etching. Good conditions. The artwork is depicted through soft strokes in a well-balanced composition.

Category

1970s Contemporary Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Arthur Luiz Piza"Shell, " Original Etching signed by Arthur Luiz Piza, circa 1960

$5,150

"Shell, " Original Etching signed by Arthur Luiz Piza

By Arthur Luiz Piza

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Shell" is an original etching by Arthur Luiz Piza. It depicts an abstract, textured shell in the shape of an egg.

Category

1960s Abstract Abstract Prints

Materials

Etching

Leo GuidaThe Cuckoo Clock - Original Etching by Leo Guida - 1971, 1971

$366

The Cuckoo Clock - Original Etching by Leo Guida - 1971

By Leo Guida

Located in Roma, IT

The Cuckoo Clock is an original etching print realized by Leo Guida in 1971.

Category

1970s Contemporary Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Fred DeuxFred Deux - Grey Surrealism III - Signed Original Etching

$916

Fred Deux - Grey Surrealism III - Signed Original Etching

By Fred Deux

Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH

Fred Deux - Grey III - Signed Original Etching Signed and Numbered Edition of 100 Dimensions: 24 x 14 cm Fred Deux Fred Deux, illustrator, oral poet, writer, and, under the pseudo...

Category

1970s Surrealist Still-life Prints

Materials

Etching

Fred DeuxFred Deux - Grey Surrealism IV - Signed Original Etching

$916

Fred Deux - Grey Surrealism IV - Signed Original Etching

By Fred Deux

Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH

Fred Deux - Grey IV - Signed Original Etching Signed and Numbered Edition of 100 Dimensions: 24 x 14 cm Fred Deux Fred Deux, illustrator, oral poet, writer, and, under the pseudon...

Category

1970s Surrealist Still-life Prints

Materials

Etching

Fred DeuxFred Deux - Grey Surrealism V - Signed Original Etching

$916

Fred Deux - Grey Surrealism V - Signed Original Etching

By Fred Deux

Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH

Fred Deux - Grey V - Signed Original Etching Signed and Numbered Edition of 100 Dimensions: 24 x 14 cm Fred Deux Fred Deux, illustrator, oral poet, writer, and, under the pseudony...

Category

1970s Surrealist Still-life Prints

Materials

Etching

Fred DeuxFred Deux - Grey Surrealism VII - Signed Original Etching

$916

Fred Deux - Grey Surrealism VII - Signed Original Etching

By Fred Deux

Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH

Fred Deux - Grey VII - Signed Original Etching Signed and Numbered Edition of 100 Dimensions: 24 x 14 cm Fred Deux Fred Deux, illustrator, oral poet, writer, and, under the pseudo...

Category

1970s Surrealist Still-life Prints

Materials

Etching

Fred DeuxFred Deux - Grey Surrealism VI - Signed Original Etching

$916

Fred Deux - Grey Surrealism VI - Signed Original Etching

By Fred Deux

Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH

Fred Deux - Grey VI - Signed Original Etching Signed and Numbered Edition of 100 Dimensions: 24 x 14 cm Fred Deux Fred Deux, illustrator, oral poet, writer, and, under the pseudon...

Category

1970s Surrealist Still-life Prints

Materials

Etching

Fred DeuxFred Deux - Grey Surrealism II - Signed Original Etching

$916

Fred Deux - Grey Surrealism II - Signed Original Etching

By Fred Deux

Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH

Fred Deux - Grey I - Signed Original Etching Signed and Numbered Edition of 100 Dimensions: 24 x 14 cm Fred Deux Fred Deux, illustrator, oral poet, writer, and, under the pseudony...

Category

1970s Surrealist Still-life Prints

Materials

Etching

Fred DeuxFred Deux - Grey Surrealism I - Signed Original Etching

$916

Fred Deux - Grey Surrealism I - Signed Original Etching

By Fred Deux

Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH

Fred Deux - Grey I - Signed Original Etching Signed and Numbered Edition of 100 Dimensions: 24 x 14 cm Fred Deux Fred Deux, illustrator, oral poet, writer, and, under the pseudony...

Category

1970s Surrealist Still-life Prints

Materials

Etching

John Sloan"Man Monkey, " Original Etching Genre Scene signed by John Sloan, 1905

$6,000

"Man Monkey, " Original Etching Genre Scene signed by John Sloan

By John Sloan

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Man Monkey" is an original etching by John Sloan. The artist signed the piece in the lower right.

Category

Early 1900s Ashcan School Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Salvador DalíSigismund, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1971, Signed, 1971

$641

Sigismund, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1971, Signed

By Salvador Dalí

Located in OPOLE, PL

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) - Sigismund Etching from 1971. The edition of 265 on Arches paper. Dimensions of work: 38 x 28 cm. Publisher: Editeuropa Anslat/Bergrgruen. Reference: ...

Category

1970s Surrealist More Prints

Materials

Etching

Salvador DalíFrontispiece, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1971, Signed, 1971

$641

Frontispiece, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1971, Signed

By Salvador Dalí

Located in OPOLE, PL

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) - Frontispiece Etching from 1971. The edition of 265 on Arches paper. Dimensions of work: 38 x 28 cm. Publisher: Editeuropa Anslat/Bergrgruen. Referenc...

Category

1970s Surrealist More Prints

Materials

Etching

Salvador DalíFinal Apotheosis, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1971, 1971

$641

Final Apotheosis, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1971

By Salvador Dalí

Located in OPOLE, PL

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) - Final Apotheosis Etching from 1971. The edition of 265 on Arches paper. Dimensions of work: 38 x 28 cm. Publisher: Editeuropa Anslat/Bergrgruen. Refe...

Category

1970s Surrealist More Prints

Materials

Etching

Henri FargeNude from Back - Original Etching by Henri Farge - Early 20th Century, Early 20th Century

$320

Nude from Back - Original Etching by Henri Farge - Early 20th Century

By Henri Farge

Located in Roma, IT

Original etching on ivory paper. Hand-signed in pen by the artist on the lower right corner.

Category

Early 20th Century Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Albert Al Hirschfeld"Astaire and Rogers" original etching by Al Hirschfeld from Deluxe Edition of 95, 1987

$4,000

"Astaire and Rogers" original etching by Al Hirschfeld from Deluxe Edition of 95

By Albert Al Hirschfeld

Located in Boca Raton, FL

"Astaire and Rogers" original etching by Al Hirschfeld. Caricature portraits of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers Edition 37 from the Deluxe Edition of 95 hand pulled in 1987.

Category

1980s Other Art Style Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Salvador DalíIssachar, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1973, Signed, 1973

$6,413

Issachar, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1973, Signed

By Salvador Dalí

Located in OPOLE, PL

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) - Issachar Etching from 1973. The edition of 77/195. Dimensions of work: 65.5 x 50 cm. Hand signed. Publisher: Transworld Art, Fribourg, Switzerland. ...

Category

1970s Surrealist More Prints

Materials

Etching

Salvador DalíNaphtali, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1973, Signed, 1973

$6,413

Naphtali, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1973, Signed

By Salvador Dalí

Located in OPOLE, PL

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) - Naphtali Etching from 1973. The edition of 77/195. Dimensions of work: 65.5 x 50 cm. Hand signed. Publisher: Transworld Art, Fribourg, Switzerland. ...

Category

1970s Surrealist More Prints

Materials

Etching

Salvador DalíZebulun, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1973, Signed, 1973

$6,413

Zebulun, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1973, Signed

By Salvador Dalí

Located in OPOLE, PL

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) - Zebulun Etching from 1973. The edition of 77/195. Dimensions of work: 65.5 x 50 cm. Hand signed. Publisher: Transworld Art, Fribourg, Switzerland. R...

Category

1970s Surrealist More Prints

Materials

Etching

Salvador DalíSimeon, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1973, Signed, 1973

$6,413

Simeon, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1973, Signed

By Salvador Dalí

Located in OPOLE, PL

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) - Reuben Etching from 1973. The edition of 77/195. Dimensions of work: 65.5 x 50 cm. Hand signed. Publisher: Transworld Art, Fribourg, Switzerland. Re...

Category

1970s Surrealist More Prints

Materials

Etching

Salvador DalíReuben, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1973, Signed, 1973

$6,413

Reuben, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1973, Signed

By Salvador Dalí

Located in OPOLE, PL

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) - Reuben Etching from 1973. The edition of 77/195. Dimensions of work: 65.5 x 50 cm. Hand signed. Publisher: Transworld Art, Fribourg, Switzerland. Re...

Category

1970s Surrealist More Prints

Materials

Etching

Salvador DalíBenjamin, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1973, Signed, 1973

$6,413

Benjamin, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1973, Signed

By Salvador Dalí

Located in OPOLE, PL

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) - Benjamin Etching from 1973. The edition of 77/195. Dimensions of work: 65.5 x 50 cm. Hand signed. Publisher: Transworld Art, Fribourg, Switzerland. ...

Category

1970s Surrealist More Prints

Materials

Etching

Salvador DalíJoseph, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1973, Signed, 1973

$6,413

Joseph, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1973, Signed

By Salvador Dalí

Located in OPOLE, PL

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) - Joseph Etching from 1973. The edition of 77/195. Dimensions of work: 65.5 x 50 cm. Hand signed. Publisher: Transworld Art, Fribourg, Switzerland. Re...

Category

1970s Surrealist More Prints

Materials

Etching

Salvador DalíFrontispiece, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1973, Signed, 1973

$6,413

Frontispiece, Original Etching, Surrealist, 1973, Signed

By Salvador Dalí

Located in OPOLE, PL

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) - Frontispiece Etching from 1973. The edition of 77/195. Dimensions of work: 65.5 x 50 cm. Hand signed. Publisher: Transworld Art, Fribourg, Switzerlan...

Category

1970s Surrealist More Prints

Materials

Etching

Charles ChaplinFileuse et son Enfant - Original Etching by Charles Chaplin - 1850, 1850

$206

Fileuse et son Enfant - Original Etching by Charles Chaplin - 1850

By Charles Chaplin

Located in Roma, IT

Original etching on paper on china paper. Artist's Proof before the address.

Category

Late 19th Century Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Pierre-Auguste RenoirRenoir "Femme nue assise" original etching, 1909

$1,500

Renoir "Femme nue assise" original etching

By Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Located in Henderson, NV

Medium: original soft ground etching. Catalogue reference: Delteil 12.

Category

Early 1900s Impressionist Nude Prints

Materials

Etching

Marcel ChirnoagaBulls - Original Etching by M. Chirnoaga - Late 20th Century, Late 20th Century

$744

Bulls - Original Etching by M. Chirnoaga - Late 20th Century

By Marcel Chirnoaga

Located in Roma, IT

Minotaur is an original etching artwork by Marcel Chirnoaga (Romanian, 1930–2008) one of the most important artists of fantasy painting and mythology subjects in the XX century.

Category

Late 20th Century Contemporary Animal Prints

Materials

Etching

Pablo PicassoThe 156, Painter Drawing is Model - Original Etching, Signed (Baer #1876), 1978

$16,034

The 156, Painter Drawing is Model - Original Etching, Signed (Baer #1876)

By Pablo Picasso

Located in Paris, IDF

Pablo PICASSO (1881-1973) Series 156, Painter Drawing is Model (plate 16), 1978 Original etching (Crommelynck workshop) Signed with stamp Justified HC B/C On vellum, 63 x 76 cm (c. ...

Category

1970s Cubist Portrait Prints

Materials

Etching

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed - original Etching - 18th Century, 18th Century

$572

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed - original Etching - 18th Century

Located in Roma, IT

Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed, original etching from the end of the 18th century, made by Various Old Masters.

Category

Late 18th Century Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Jacques HallezDéjeuner sur l'herbe - Original Etching by Jacques Hallez - Late 20th Century, Late 20th Century

$286

Déjeuner sur l'herbe - Original Etching by Jacques Hallez - Late 20th Century

By Jacques Hallez

Located in Roma, IT

Déjeuner sur l'herbe is an original etching print realized by French painter and engraver Jacques Hallez (1923-2021) in the late 20 century.

Category

Late 20th Century Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Yvonne MondinMan with the Pipe - Original Etching by Yvonne Mondin - Mid 20th century, Mid 20th century

$389

Man with the Pipe - Original Etching by Yvonne Mondin - Mid 20th century

Located in Roma, IT

Man with the pipe is an original etching on ivory-colored paper realized by Yvonne Mondin in the mid-20th century.

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Jean-Lubin VauzelleLa Devineresse - Original Etching by J-L Vauzelle - End of 18th Century, End of 18th Century

$206

La Devineresse - Original Etching by J-L Vauzelle - End of 18th Century

Located in Roma, IT

Original etching on paper. Passepartout included (39 x 28.5 cm).

Category

Late 18th Century Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Leo GuidaEuropa - Original Etching On Paper by Leo Guida - 1970s, 1970s

$366

Europa - Original Etching On Paper by Leo Guida - 1970s

By Leo Guida

Located in Roma, IT

Original etching on paper. Hand-signed on the lower right in pencil.

Category

1970s Contemporary Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Leo GuidaOn the Grass - Original Etching by Leo Guida - 1970s, 1970s

$274

On the Grass - Original Etching by Leo Guida - 1970s

By Leo Guida

Located in Roma, IT

Original etching. Good conditions. Hand-signed Artist's proof.

Category

1970s Contemporary Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Carlo Lasinio Carlo Lasinio "Ermina and the Wounded Tancredi" Original Etching C.1820, Circa 1820

$450

Carlo Lasinio "Ermina and the Wounded Tancredi" Original Etching C.1820

Located in San Francisco, CA

Carlo Lasinio "Ermina and the Wounded Tancredi" Original Etching C.1820 Remarkable early 19th century etching Plate dimensions 14.75" wide 11.25" high The frame measures 24.75" wi...

Category

Early 20th Century Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Ancient Roman Busts - Original Etching - Late 18th Century, Late 18th Century

$343

Ancient Roman Busts - Original Etching - Late 18th Century

Located in Roma, IT

Ancient Roman Busts from the Series "Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed", original etching from the end of the 18th century, made by Various Old Masters.

Category

Late 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Jean BondalShips - Original Etching by Jean Bondal, 2000s

$229

Ships - Original Etching by Jean Bondal

Located in Roma, IT

This original print representing a marine landscape with ships under a storm is a numbered artist's proof.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary More Prints

Materials

Etching

Thomas HollowayThe Physiognomy - The Profile - Original Etching by Thomas Holloway - 1810, 1810

$286

The Physiognomy - The Profile - Original Etching by Thomas Holloway - 1810

By Thomas Holloway

Located in Roma, IT

The Physiognomy -The Profile is an original etching artwork realized by Thomas Holloway for Johann Caspar Lavater's "Essays on Physiognomy, Designed to Promote the Knowledge and the ...

Category

1810s Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Abraham GirardetPacte Fédératif des Français - Original Etching by Abraham Girardet - 1790, 1790

$206

Pacte Fédératif des Français - Original Etching by Abraham Girardet - 1790

By Abraham Girardet

Located in Roma, IT

Original etching on paper. Passepartout included (cm 32 x 40.5).

Category

1790s Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Thomas HollowayThe Head - The Physiognomy - Original Etching by Thomas Holloway - 1810, 1810

$286

The Head - The Physiognomy - Original Etching by Thomas Holloway - 1810

By Thomas Holloway

Located in Roma, IT

The Head - The Physiognomy is an original etching artwork realized by Thomas Holloway for Johann Caspar Lavater's "Essays on Physiognomy, Designed to Promote the Knowledge and the Lo...

Category

1810s Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Thomas HollowayThe Profile - The Physiognomy - Original Etching by Thomas Holloway - 1810, 1810

$286

The Profile - The Physiognomy - Original Etching by Thomas Holloway - 1810

By Thomas Holloway

Located in Roma, IT

The Profile - The Physiognomy is an original etching artwork realized by Thomas Holloway for Johann Caspar Lavater's "Essays on Physiognomy, Designed to Promote the Knowledge and the...

Category

1810s Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Thomas HollowayThe Head - The Physiognomy - Original Etching by Thomas Holloway - 1810, 1810

$286

The Head - The Physiognomy - Original Etching by Thomas Holloway - 1810

By Thomas Holloway

Located in Roma, IT

The Head - The Physiognomy is an original etching artwork realized by Thomas Holloway for Johann Caspar Lavater's "Essays on Physiognomy, Designed to Promote the Knowledge and the Lo...

Category

1810s Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Thomas HollowayThe Ears - The Physiognomy - Original Etching by Thomas Holloway - 1810, 1810

$286

The Ears - The Physiognomy - Original Etching by Thomas Holloway - 1810

By Thomas Holloway

Located in Roma, IT

The Ears - The Physiognomy is an original etching artwork realized by Thomas Holloway for Johann Caspar Lavater's "Essays on Physiognomy, Designed to Promote the Knowledge and the Lo...

Category

1810s Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Thomas HollowayThe Physiognomy - The Eye - Original Etching by Thomas Holloway - 1810, 1810

$286

The Physiognomy - The Eye - Original Etching by Thomas Holloway - 1810

By Thomas Holloway

Located in Roma, IT

The Physiognomy - The Eye is an original etching artwork realized by Thomas Holloway for Johann Caspar Lavater's "Essays on Physiognomy, Designed to Promote the Knowledge and the Lov...

Category

1810s Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Thomas HollowaySilhouette Profile -The Physiognomy- Original Etching by Thomas Holloway - 1810, 1810

$286

Silhouette Profile -The Physiognomy- Original Etching by Thomas Holloway - 1810

By Thomas Holloway

Located in Roma, IT

The Silhouette Profile - The Physiognomy is an original etching artwork realized by Thomas Holloway for Johann Caspar Lavater's "Essays on Physiognomy, Designed to Promote the Knowle...

Category

1810s Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

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Original Etching For Sale on 1stDibs

Find the exact original etching you’re shopping for in the variety available on 1stDibs. In our selection of items, you can find Modern examples as well as a Surrealist version. Making the right choice when shopping for an original etching may mean carefully reviewing examples of this item dating from different eras — you can find an early iteration of this piece from the 18th Century and a newer version made as recently as the 21st Century. When looking for the right original etching for your space, you can search on 1stDibs by color — popular works were created in bold and neutral palettes with elements of gray, beige, white and brown. There have been many interesting original etching examples over the years, but those made by Salvador Dalí, Leo Guida, Anselmo Bucci, Francisco Goya and Giacomo Porzano are often thought to be among the most thought-provoking. Artworks like these — often created in etching, aquatint and engraving — can elevate any room of your home. If space is limited, you can find a small original etching measuring 1.42 high and 0.04 wide, while our inventory also includes works up to 104.34 across to better suit those in the market for a large original etching.

How Much is a Original Etching?

An original etching can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price for items in our inventory is $468, while the lowest priced sells for $99 and the highest can go for as much as $55,000.

Finding the Right Prints And Multiples for You

Decorating with fine art prints — whether they’re figurative prints, abstract prints or another variety — has always been a practical way of bringing a space to life as well as bringing works by an artist you love into your home.

Pursued in the 1960s and ’70s, largely by Pop artists drawn to its associations with mass production, advertising, packaging and seriality, as well as those challenging the primacy of the Abstract Expressionist brushstroke, printmaking was embraced in the 1980s by painters and conceptual artists ranging from David Salle and Elizabeth Murray to Adrian Piper and Sherrie Levine.

Printmaking is the transfer of an image from one surface to another. An artist takes a material like stone, metal, wood or wax, carves, incises, draws or otherwise marks it with an image, inks or paints it and then transfers the image to a piece of paper or other material.

Fine art prints are frequently confused with their more commercial counterparts. After all, our closest connection to the printed image is through mass-produced newspapers, magazines and books, and many people don’t realize that even though prints are editions, they start with an original image created by an artist with the intent of reproducing it in a small batch. Fine art prints are created in strictly limited editions — 20 or 30 or maybe 50 — and are always based on an image created specifically to be made into an edition.

Many people think of revered Dutch artist Rembrandt as a painter but may not know that he was a printmaker as well. His prints have been preserved in time along with the work of other celebrated printmakers such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol. These fine art prints are still highly sought after by collectors.

“It’s another tool in the artist’s toolbox, just like painting or sculpture or anything else that an artist uses in the service of mark making or expressing him- or herself,” says International Fine Print Dealers Association (IFPDA) vice president Betsy Senior, of New York’s Betsy Senior Fine Art, Inc.

Because artist’s editions tend to be more affordable and available than his or her unique works, they’re more accessible and can be a great opportunity to bring a variety of colors, textures and shapes into a space.

For tight corners, select small fine art prints as opposed to the oversized bold piece you’ll hang as a focal point in the dining area. But be careful not to choose something that is too big for your space. And feel free to lean into it if need be — not every work needs picture-hanging hooks. Leaning a larger fine art print against the wall behind a bookcase can add a stylish installation-type dynamic to your living room. (Read more about how to arrange wall art here.)

Find fine art prints for sale on 1stDibs today.

Questions About Original Etching

What is an original etching?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024
An original etching is a print produced during the first production run of a print series. After making an etching plate, an artist will create a limited number of etchings. Collectively, these prints are the original etchings. They differ from restrike etchings made years later, sometimes after the death of the artist. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of etchings.
How can you tell if an etching is original?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertAugust 29, 2024
To tell if an etching is original, first gently run your hand along its surface. An original etching will usually have a slight indentation in the image area left behind by the pressure applied by the plate during the printing process. Next, grab a magnifying glass and view the image up close. On an original, you won't see small dots making up the picture, but many reproductions do display dots due to their printing methods. Finally, look at the signature. Most original etchings will be hand-signed. If the signature is printed on your piece, it may be a reproduction. Consult a certified appraiser or experienced art dealer for an expert opinion on your print. Find a wide variety of etchings on 1stDibs.
Are original etchings worth anything?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertOctober 30, 2024
Yes, some original etchings are worth something. Original signed prints by Old Masters like Rembrandt and Albrecht Dürer are particularly valuable, as are those made by modern artists such as Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, Martin Lewis and David Hockney. Generally, the artist, age, historical significance, image quality and overall conditions of etchings all contribute to their value. To learn how much your etching may be worth, seek the opinion of a certified appraiser or experienced art dealer. Explore a large collection of etchings on 1stDibs.

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