What is Engrossing?

Engrossing is the art of designing, writing, lettering, and painting elaborate documents by hand. By employing a mixture of fine penmanship, meticulous lettering, ink drawing, watercolor, and illumination techniques, a piece of artistic engrossing can beautify an otherwise unremarkable text, transforming it into something extraordinary.

An artistic engrossing by Dennis & Baird, 1902.