Foxwell Gallery

Fine Art Research
An extensive collection of fine art terms, techniques, selected artist biographies, etc

Berchem, Nicholaes
Nicolaes Berchem (1620 - 1683)
Nationality: Dutch
A highly esteemed and prolific Dutch painter of pastoral landscapes, populated with mythological or biblical figures, but also of a number allegories and genre pieces.Taught by his father, Pieter Claesz, Nicolaes Berchem began his career in Haarlem at the age of fourteen. He adopted the last name Berchem while studying in Jan van Goyen’s studio. Berchem also trained other another Dutch landscape painter, Cornelis van Poelenburgh, and adopted a classical style. At fifty-seven, he settled in Amsterdam and painted Italian landscapes until his death. He painted over 800 works in his lifetime, most of the Italian countryside, although scholars are unsure whether he ever actually visited the country that he was inspired by.

BEADING.
A greasy surface repels water and aqueous preparations by reducing them to droplets. This beading will occur if, for example, a copper plate which has not been cleaned properly is covered with Indian ink.

BED (OF PRESS).
Part of a press on which the plate or block rests during printing. In a lithographic press, the bed is a mobile element which transports stone to a position beneath the scraper or roller.

BEVELLING.
The edges of intaglio plates are bevelled to ensure that they do not cut the paper in the press. A true bevel is only necessary if the plate is more than a millimeter thick, otherwise a light rounding off is sufficient.

BITING.
The process of (1) corroding a design on a metal plate in either intaglio (e.g. etching) or relief (e.g. line block); and (2) fixing the image on the stone or metal plate in lithography (see: reinforcing). It is done with a mordant: acid solution, salt (perchloride of iron), etc.

BLANCHING.
A pale discoloration on a surface as a result of superficial water or solvent penetration.

BLANKETS.
Blankets may be used as the packing placed between the upper roller of the intaglio press and the paper when printing. These are used to even out the pressure being applied to a plate.

BLOCK.
The wooden element which is printed in making woodcuts and wood engraving. The word also applies to typographical printing elements.

BLURRING.
An impression will receive a blurred appearance if the paper and the inked roller are not properly registered during printing.

"BON A TIRER".
Literally means "Good to print:" It is generally assigned on a trial proof by the artist when he wishes to indicate to the professional printer that a satisfactory state of his print has been obtained. It gives the printer the standard to which he must adhere in taking successive impressions.

BUCKLING.
A radical shrinkage or compression of a surface (e.g panel painting) as a result of environmental action. This often results in generalized lifting or cleavage of the paint and decoration layers.

BURIN ENGRAVING.
Also known as line engraving.

BURNISHING.
The operation of smoothing out the grain in the mezzotint process with the aid of the burnisher, a polished steel tool with a large round head. It is also used on metal plates where corrections are required.

BURR.
The cutting action of a tool across a metal plate causes rough ridges known as "burr" to be thrown up on either side of the incision. The ridges left by a burin are quite small and are removed with the scraper; the drypoint creates a large burr, which retains the ink and prints an area of rich tone - the particular characteristic of this technique. Burr is very fragile and, unless the plate is steel-faced, will rapidly wear away in the press. Usually lasts for only 10-20 impressions after creation.