In 1788, Blake began to experiment with “illuminated printing,” a form of relief etching.  The text was lettered on a paper coated with gum arabic in a varnish that was immune to acid. The paper was then soaked and laid face down on the heated copperplate. The paper on the plate was then rolled with pressure. When the paper was removed, the letters were transferred to the copper in reverse. The copper’s surface was then treated in a solution that ate away the unvarnished portions. The ink and color was then applied to the etching from another block and pressed against paper.  The resulting print on the paper was hand painted by Blake and his wife, Catherine.