Engraved copperplate for The Battle at Tam-dy and Tru-huu
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.This copperplate, made in China and engraved by Chinese craftsmen, is one of six commemorating the Annam Campaign. The adjacent impression was printed from the plate, but because Chinese engravers lacked experience with the European technique of copperplate engraving, it is inferior in quality to its French counterparts.
Unlike woodcuts, where the design stands out in relief, copperplate engravings are taken from lines cut into a metal plate. The plates are inked and wiped clean so that ink is left only in the incisions. The images are printed under great pressure from a rolling press that forces the dampened paper into the grooves to absorb the ink. Woodblocks and copperplates are both cut in reverse.
Unlike woodcuts, where the design stands out in relief, copperplate engravings are taken from lines cut into a metal plate. The plates are inked and wiped clean so that ink is left only in the incisions. The images are printed under great pressure from a rolling press that forces the dampened paper into the grooves to absorb the ink. Woodblocks and copperplates are both cut in reverse.
Artwork Details
- Title: Engraved copperplate for The Battle at Tam-dy and Tru-huu
- Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
- Date: 1789–90
- Culture: China
- Medium: Engraved copper plate for printing
- Dimensions: Overall: 23 5/16 x 37 3/8 in. (59.2 x 95 cm)
- Classification: Metalwork
- Credit Line: On loan from the British Museum
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art