Luigi Kasimir (1881 - 1962)

   Austrian-born etcher and painter, Luigi Kasimir was born in 1881 in Pettau, a part of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Kasimir attended the Vienna Academy of Art where he studied under William Unger, who introduced him to the technique of the colored etching.

Up until this point, prints were usually hand colored with the color being applied in a casual, haphazard manner. Kasimir was a pioneer in the colored etching technique. He started with a sketch, usually in pastel, andthen transferred the design on as many as four to six plates. He printed one after the other and applied the color on the plate--all done by hand. Luigi Kasimir died in 1962.