‘FUNGUS ROCK’ – Maltese Landscape Artwork Print on Handmade Paper (A5)

Details

• Technique: Blake’s relief-etching (acid-etched copper, relief inking)
• Edition: Limited to 100 signed & numbered copies
• Size: (20 × 15 cm / 7.90″ × 5.90″)
• Paper: Handmade Paper
• Ink: Archival black letterpress ink
• Process: Hand-pressed, slow artisanal design
• Certificate: Signed certificate of authenticity included
• Artist: Abel Bartolich
• Year of creation: 2024
• Country of origin: Malta
• Packaging: Sealed in a compostable clear film, reinforced with grey cardboard backing, and shipped in a rigid cardboard envelope for safe delivery
• Package Contents: 1 × limited edition print, 1 × certificate of authenticity

About the Print

Created by artist Abel Bartolich, this limited edition copper etching print revives a rare 18th-century technique. Using Blake’s relief-etching method, each piece is acid-etched into copper, inked in relief, and hand-pressed on a traditional roller press. Every print is made on handmade paper, using archival black letterpress ink. This artwork is sold unframed.

About the Handmade Paper

This edition is printed on handmade paper created in our artisan studio in Malta from recycled Times of Malta newspaper. The sheets are around 120 gsm, with a rustic, slightly uneven texture and a natural greenish tone that gives each artwork an organic, vintage character. Unique to this paper, its colour gently shifts under UV light — meaning that with time and sunlight, the shade may evolve and add a living patina to the print. To preserve the original hue, we recommend museum glass framing with UV protection, but you may also let the paper interact with light for an ever-changing effect. Every sheet is individually crafted, so no two are alike, making each copper etching print a true one-of-a-kind piece.

Process Gallery

A glimpse into the creation process — from the first ink drawing to the final hand-pressed copper etching print.

The Story Behind the Art

FUNGUS ROCK (Maltese Landscape)

Fungus Rock off Gozo rises like a limestone sentinel, storied with legends and a rare parasitic plant once prized for supposed healing powers. From the west-facing sea view, its sheer walls meet the Mediterranean’s azure in a stark, sculptural contrast—nature’s monolith etched by wind and salt. Explore the location on Google Maps.