London Etchings

These London Etchings take in London’s historic city churches, imposing bridges and impressive riverside vistas. Including works by print makers and engravers that formed part of the Etching Revival Movement in Britain between 1850 and 1930.

The Etching Revival Movement was a reaction against the prevailing aesthetic trends of the mid-19th century, which emphasised realism and academic techniques. Etching, a technique of creating prints by engraving lines onto a metal plate and then transferring the image onto paper, had fallen out of favour with artists and collectors. But a group of young artists, inspired by the etchings of Rembrandt and other Old Masters, began to experiment with the medium and to develop new approaches to etching. They formed the Etching Club in London in 1857, which provided a forum for artists to share techniques and ideas. The Etching Club quickly gained popularity and by the 1860, the Etching Revival Movement was in full swing. Artists such as James McNeill Whistler, Francis Seymour Haden, and Joseph Pennell became leading figures of the movement, producing etchings that were highly sought after by collectors.

What was particularly remarkable about the Etching Revival Movement was the way in which it blurred the boundaries between fine art and commercial printing. Etchings were no longer just a means of producing illustrations for books and magazines; they were now works of art in their own right, valued for their technical virtuosity and expressive power. London was at the centre of this artistic ferment, with numerous exhibitions and publications devoted to etchings. The Burlington Fine Arts Club held a major exhibition of etchings in 1871, which showcased the work of British and European artists.