Woodcut
A printing technique in which an impression is made from a wooden block
Woodcut — a method of creating an image by cutting a design into a wooden block and printing impressions from it. This technique has existed since ancient times but became particularly popular in the 15th–16th centuries in Europe. A master engraver uses special tools to cut the image into the thickness of the wood, leaving the uncarved areas as the printing relief. The surface is then inked, paper is pressed onto it, and an impression appears.
Important: hardwoods (usually pear or cherry) are used for engravings to maintain fine detail.
Wood engraving was used for illustrations, icons, books, and even playing cards. In Japan, the art of woodcut led to the flourishing of the ukiyo-e genre. A known curiosity: the Brothers Grimm rejected the first illustrations for their fairy tales because the wood engravings were too frightening. Today, handmade wood engraving is valued as a rare artistic technique and is often used to create stylish art posters.