Engravers had a central role in Europe’s printing presses in the 14th and 15th century. They were responsible for decorating the books. Most engravers had an artistic background, often starting out as woodcarvers, silversmiths, and goldsmiths.
The engravers’ work consisted of carving out designs into printing plates. The material used to make printing plates varied, they could be made of wood, zinc, or copper. The engravers used a variety of engravers’ needles and knives to complete their work. Precision was essential as even small mistakes would impact the quality of the printing results. When the engraving was finished, the plate would be covered with ink before it was pressed against the paper/parchment.
