There are many similarities between mezzotint in printmaking and damascening in metalworking. Both techniques involve creating a cross hatched ground, mezzotint cutting in up to 24 directions with a rocker and damascening between 3 – 6 directions with chisels. Is it possible that one technique influenced the development of the other? It is accepted for example that the technique of etching evolved from the craft of decorating armour. Could mezzotint similarly have evolved from metal damascening which was also used for decorating armour?

Recognising the similarities between the two techniques Sandra Wilson a jeweller and metalworker and Rob Jackson a printmaker decided to explore whether a damascened chiselled plate could create a mezzotint print and similarly whether a mezzotint rocked plate could provide the foundation for attaching metal foils as used in damascening. This pdf paper details their practice based research.