An
old master print is a
work of art produced by a
printing process within the Western tradition. The term remains current in the
art trade, and there is no easy alternative in English to distinguish the works of "
fine art" produced in
printmaking from the vast range of decorative, utilitarian and
popular prints that grew rapidly alongside the artistic print from the 15th-century onwards. 15th-century prints are sufficiently rare that they are classed as "old master prints" even when of crude or merely workmanlike artistic quality. A date of about 1830 is usually taken as marking the end of the period whose prints are covered by this term. The main techniques concerned are
woodcut,
engraving and
etching, although there are others. With rare exceptions on textiles such as silk, or
vellum, old master prints are printed on
paper. This article is concerned with the artistic, historical and social aspects of the subject; the article on
printmaking describes the techniques used in making old master prints, although from a modern perspective.