Ornament for Dagger Sheath

About this work

This etching shows a curved dagger sheath covered in swirling vines and flowers. The lines are crisp and deep in some spots, almost like a woodcut but made on thin metal. Hopfer used acid to bite the lines into the iron plate, then printed it on paper. It looks like a small study, not a finished work. These kinds of prints were often used by armorers or goldsmiths to share designs. The ink bleeds a little at the edges, which feels intentional. Try printing your own etching at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.