I’m Abel Bartolich, and this is how I turn raw copper into fine art prints. Using a forgotten etching method revived in our artisan studio, each piece is hand-pressed with care, texture, and meaning.
What Is Copper Etching?
Copper etching is a traditional printmaking process where a design is applied to a copper plate through hand engraving or acid etching. In the classic printmaking method, the artist rubs ink into the carved or etched lines, wipes the surface clean, and then presses paper onto the plate with strong manual pressure. The ink transfers from the grooves onto the paper, creating a detailed image with subtle texture and depth.
Rembrandt, “Joseph and Potiphar’s wife” 1634 – copperplate
A Forgotten Innovation in Copper Etching
In the 18th century, the English poet and artist William Blake, working in the United Kingdom, reimagined traditional copper etching. Instead of pressing ink into etched lines, he explored how to print from the surface of the copper plate — merging elements of etching and block printing.
This process, now known as Blake’s Relief-Etching Method, was a radical innovation in its time. Though it never became widespread, it opened the door to new creative possibilities — and continues to inspire alternative approaches to copper etching today.
But copper etching isn’t limited to printmaking. The same techniques — hand engraving or acid etching — are also used in other art forms. In jewellery making, copper is often etched with intricate patterns. In some cases, the etched copper itself becomes the artwork: a finished object that is valued and displayed as a unique, textured metal surface, rather than being used to create prints.
William Blake, “London”
1794 – copperplate
Reimagining Copper Etching
– My Way
I don’t create traditional copper engravings. Instead, I’ve revived the forgotten Blake’s Relief-Etching Method — a surface-printing technique from the 18th century.
My process is based on acid etching (not carving) and relief inking (not rubbing ink into grooves). I etch the design into the copper plate using acid, then roll ink onto the raised surface — just like in lino or block printing. The result: a bold, textured image pressed from the surface, not the depths.
Read the Full Process
Abel Bartolich, “Touch”
2024 – copperplate
COPPER ETCHING
— COME TO LIFE
Each of my Copper Etching Prints tells a story — shaped in copper, inked with care, and pressed entirely by hand. What begins as a simple drawing on copper transforms into a tangible piece of art — textured, timeless, and filled with soul.
Because of my unique relief-etching technique, every print carries a subtle embossed surface that adds depth and presence — a refined tactile quality rarely found in today’s hand-printed blockprints.
I invite you to explore my growing collection and see how this ancient craft continues to take form in the present day.
VIEW MY PRINT GALLERY
Created for Collectors and Connoisseurs
My copper etching prints are produced in strictly limited, numbered editions, each carefully hand-pressed at our BARTOART Artisan Studio in Malta. Every artwork is accompanied by an Artist’s Certificate of Authenticity, guaranteeing its originality, provenance, and collectible value for collectors in the UK and worldwide.
These are premium fine art prints — not mass-produced reproductions, but intimate, gallery-grade pieces created for discerning collectors who value rarity, craftsmanship, and heritage. They are works made to enrich refined interiors and to be cherished as heirloom-quality art.
View the Collection