Seven Year Etch

Ever since I can remember I've been fascinated by etching of animals. I love the time that has gone into the study of the creature to create such a detailed image and often by virtue of the period in which the piece was made it carries a certain reverence. The exotic animals of the world were once still a mystery to most people and existed in a blurry space between knowledge and lore. As soon as something becomes over accessible it becomes very easy to take it for granted and these days all I have to do is type "Chinese Salamander" into Google and I'll have dozens before my eyes. The idea that animals are things of mystery is almost as beautiful to me as the images themselves.