The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word INTAGLIO
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
I
N
T
A
G
L
I
O
More clues leading to the result INTAGLIO
- Cutting in, identify painting that’s put up
- Modish label recalled possibly crude design
- Toiling with difficulty to incorporate a design
- Fashionable label to lubricate back binding
- Toiling away at first, reproducing artwork
- Carving giant warped painting up
- Engraving of lion — it shimmers, silver coated
- Die while enjoying most of a smart infusion.
- Toiling arduously about a method of printing
- Oil giant formulated a printing technique
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "artwork" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case artwork = intaglio.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does INTAGLIO mean?
INTAGLIO noun- A design or piece of art which is engraved or etched into something.
- Any printing method in which the ink is laid upon the sunken parts of the printing form.
- To engrave or etch using intaglio.