SARASOTA, FL.- The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art at Florida State University presents the exhibit The Early Modern Painter-Etcher starting July 1 and running through August 20. Etching was a printmaking process that allowed great freedom and flexibility and was employed for a wide variety of purposes from the inventive to the reproductive. Many painters were especially attracted to the possibilities of the medium. This exhibition examines the etched work of artists primarily known as painters throughout Europe during the Early Modern period (15th-18th centuries). Some abandoned the medium after simple experimentation and others became so captivated and expert that their printed works rival their paintings in quality and importance. Bringing together a comprehensive sampling of etched works by a wide variety of painters, this exhibition will not only trace the diverse uses and characteristics of the medium but also highlight the visual qualities of works both intimate and expressive.