Few media lend themselves to analysis of the meandering path an artist takes to arrive at a mystical “finished product.” Where can we find the abortive beard of a clean-shaven sculpture? What becomes of an empty field after its painter decides to dot it with sheep? Even the sketches that give birth to works are more blueprint than unfinished building; they can reveal intention, but the genealogical leap between plan and product can be fuzzy.

Etching and engraving, however, allow an artist to create unlimited prints from a single plate, and even to create prints at various times during the plate’s life. This process can provide a window into the evolution of a single plate and, in turn, of an artist’s vision.