Intaglio, << ihn TAL yoh or ihn TAHL yoh, >> is an artistic process in which a design is carved into the surface of a material. Intaglio printmaking involves reproducing that design with ink over and over again. The artist first cuts or carves lines or shapes into a plate, most often a sheet of copper. Ink is then applied over the plate’s surface and allowed to seep into the recessed grooves. Paper or other absorbent material is laid on top of the plate. Through direct pressure applied manually or through a printing press, the ink is transferred from the plate to the paper. The process creates a mirror image of the design made in the plate. A printmaker can pull (print) many identical images from the plate before the design starts to wear.
In sculpture and the decorative arts, intaglio refers to a design or inscription carved into a three-dimensional surface. Intaglio techniques have been used in coins, seals, and medals.
