Intaglio printmaking, a European way of making copies of art that goes back to the Middle Ages, has evolved into an art form of its own. In GeyinArt studio, Beijing, art fans are  learning this ancient skill.

Copper plate etching is a traditional form of printmaking that delivers beautifully crisp line work and a unique aesthetic. It saw fast growth in Europe during the Renaissance, with a number of masterpieces emerging and being passed down.

“In the early stages, engraving art was mainly used for making copies. The technique allows painters to sell as many of their paintings as possible,” says Li Geyin, the founder of the GeyinArt Studio. “As the art developed over the years, the printing method turned into an art form in its own right, like oil paintings and sculptures. Copper plate etching is one branch of the art.”

Li Geyin learned copper plate etching in Italy and opened her own studio after coming back to Beijing. Here, she teaches the technique to anyone who is interested in the art form. “I like copper plate etching a lot and would like to open my space to painters and designers who are interested in turning their artworks into copper plate etchings. And people who don’t have a painting background are also welcome here to get to know about the art form.”

A class of this kind usually takes more than four hours, from preparing the copper plate and drawing the pattern, to putting the image onto the plate through etching, and finally printing it out.

Sometimes the printed image is not quite right, and the plate needs to be re-inked and the printing process started again. You don't know the result until it’s printed out, but that's part of the fun.