Mezzotint Prints

Mezzotint is a form of printmaking invented in Germany in the 17th Century and particularly popular in England in the 18th Century. In a mezzotint, a 'rocker' (a metal tool with sharp teeth) is used to roughen the surface and create thousands of little dots across the plate. By burnishing or smoothing these pits, the printmaker can create half-tones and introduce light and shade to the print – smooth areas will print lighter than those areas not burnished. Mezzotint is an intaglio printmaking technique.