The Master of the Burin: The Life and Legacy of John William Orr In the golden age of American printmaking, few names resonate with the technical precision and narrative charm of John William Orr. Born in Ireland on March 31, 1815, Orr’s journey was one of migration and metamorphosis, as he was brought to Buffalo, New York, in his infancy. This early immersion in the American landscape, paired with a rigorous classical training, allowed him to become a pioneer of wood engraving—a medium that required not just an artist's eye for composition, but a craftsman's steady hand and immense patience…