Final answer:
A burin is a sharp V-shaped tool used in engraving to cut lines into a metal plate for intaglio printing, creating precise and detailed images. Different from carving, which involves shaping materials by removing parts from an original form, engraving utilizes the burin to incise an image onto a surface for printing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tool used in engraving, which is a sharp V-shaped instrument used to cut lines into a metal plate, is called a burin. Engraving is an intaglio printmaking process that has a long history, dating back to Medieval times where intricate designs were cut into armor.
The burin, which is used to incise channels into a metal plate, is integral to the intaglio printing process. Once the image is incised, ink is applied to the plate, wiped clean, leaving ink in the incised lines, and then pressed onto paper to create the print.
This technique, often employed in creating artwork on paper, allows for crisp, detailed images, and has also been adapted for use in wood engraving, yielding sharper, more defined lines than those found in a traditional woodcut.
Carving, which also involves cutting or scraping material away from an original form, uses a variety of tools for shaping materials like wood, stone, and bone. Different cultures have historically developed unique tools for carving based on available resources. An example of carving in art is bas-relief, which enables sculptures to stand out with various degrees of depth for a three-dimensional effect.