What Is a Drypoint?

Drypoint is an intaglio printmaking technique in which the artist draws directly onto a metal plate using a hard, pointed tool. Unlike etching, which relies on acid to bite lines into the plate, drypoint creates marks by physically scratching the surface of the metal. As the tool moves through the plate, it raises a rough ridge of displaced metal known as a burr. When inked and printed, the burr produces characteristically soft, velvety lines with rich tonal variation.

Because the delicate burr gradually wears down under the pressure of the printing press, drypoints are often printed in relatively small editions. Early impressions typically display the strongest and most atmospheric line quality. Artists may use drypoint alone or combine it with other intaglio techniques such as etching or aquatint to introduce additional texture and tonal depth.

Drypoint has been used by artists since the Renaissance and became especially valued for its immediacy and expressive qualities. The technique allows for spontaneous mark-making that can resemble drawing more closely than many other printmaking methods. Collectors are often drawn to drypoints for their intimate scale, subtle surface richness, and distinctive soft-edged lines that are unique to the process.