Printing Crease

Hendrik Goltzius The Netherlands, 1558-1617
The Circumcision, 1594
engraving
473 mm x 352 mm
Museum Purchase, 1969.0005 View full record What to Look for: The printing crease is a fairly common flaw in earlier intaglio prints, especially of a large format. This flaw is caused by buckling of the paper as it passes through a roller press. As the moistened paper dries the wrinkle pulls apart leaving a white line where the paper did not contact the plate.