The process of etching began in the 1500's in western Europe. Perhaps the most famous etcher of all time was Rembrandt. Even during his own lifetime his original prints were sought after and collected. Today, he is as renowned for the many wonderful etchings he created as he is for his classic oil paintings. The process used today - and by Rembrandt in the 1600's - is still very much the same. It is a labor intensive and time consuming way to make pictures and the resulting original art cannot be recreated by any other means and is appreciated by many collectors today. For an explanation of original prints and the process of creating an original etching click here.