Woodcut Printmaking stands as the oldest known technique in the world of printmaking. This relief process, steeped in history and artistry, involves meticulously carving a design into a wooden block. Let’s delve into the fascinating world of woodcut prints, exploring the materials, techniques, and enduring appeal of this remarkable art form.
A curated selection of woodcut tools, showcasing the essential instruments for this printmaking technique.
The Woodcut Technique: A Step-by-Step Guide
The essence of a woodcut print lies in its relief nature. Specialized tools are employed to carve into the surface of a woodblock. The areas that remain raised after this carving process are then inked. When paper is pressed against the inked block, these raised areas transfer the ink, creating the printed image. Conversely, the carved-away recesses do not receive ink, resulting in blank spaces in the final woodcut print. This contrast between inked and un-inked areas defines the characteristic bold lines and graphic quality of woodcut art.
Preparing the Woodblock: The Foundation of the Print
The journey of a woodcut begins with the woodblock itself. Pear wood is frequently favored for its fine grain and workability. The wood is sawn along the grain to provide a stable surface and then planed smooth to ensure even carving and printing. Seasoning the woodblock is a crucial step. This process reduces the moisture content, minimizing the risks of warping or cracking over time and under the pressure of the printing press.
The dimensions of the woodblock are dictated by the intended image size, with the printing press capacity acting as the ultimate constraint. Large-scale woodcut prints often necessitate the use of multiple blocks, each carved and printed separately before being assembled to form the complete artwork. Smaller blocks are generally preferred for their resistance to cracking due to age or printing pressures. An ideal block thickness of around one inch provides a balance of ease of handling and durability against wear during the printmaking process.
Transferring the Design: From Concept to Block
Once the woodblock is prepared, the artist’s design needs to be transferred onto its surface. One method involves drawing directly onto the block. Alternatively, a sketch can be created on paper and then adhered to the block. Another common technique for design transfer utilizes chalk or graphite. By applying these materials to the back of the paper sketch and then tracing the design lines with a stylus onto the woodblock, the design is effectively transferred.
An animation illustrating the method of transferring a design from paper onto a prepared woodblock, ready for carving.
Carving the Block: Revealing the Image in Relief
The carving of the woodblock is often entrusted to a skilled professional block cutter. Using chisels, gouges, and knives, the cutter meticulously removes the areas of the block that are not part of the design and will therefore not hold ink.
Animation depicting the carving process on a woodblock, where negative space is removed to define the image in relief.
This carving process leaves the lines of the image raised in relief above the newly cut away areas. This characteristic is why woodcut is classified as a relief printmaking technique, where the printed image comes from the raised portions of the matrix.
Raking light highlighting the carved surface of a woodblock, emphasizing the relief created by the removal of wood around the design.
Inking and Printing: Bringing the Woodcut to Life
With the carving complete, the block is ready for inking. Ink is evenly applied to the raised surface using a dauber (ink ball) or a roller. Care must be taken to avoid getting ink into the carved recesses, ensuring a clean and crisp print.
Animated sequence showing the inking of a woodblock using a roller, preparing it for the printing stage.
The inked woodblock is then placed on the bed of a printing press. A sheet of dampened paper is carefully positioned over the inked surface. Printmakers employ either a platen press or a roller press to apply even pressure, transferring the ink from the block to the paper. While early woodcut prints may have been created by hand-rubbing, the printing press provides superior consistency in ink distribution and pressure.
Animation illustrating the printing process using a printing press, where pressure is applied to transfer the inked image from the woodblock to paper.
The Reversed Image: A Unique Characteristic
An intriguing aspect of woodcut printing is that the design imprinted on paper appears in reverse of the original carving on the woodblock. This reversal is a fundamental characteristic of the printmaking process and something artists consider when creating their designs.
A comparative image showcasing a finished woodcut print alongside the woodblock used to create it, illustrating the reversed image effect.
Woodcut printmaking, with its rich history and distinctive aesthetic, continues to be a vital and appreciated art form. From the careful selection and preparation of the woodblock to the precise carving and printing processes, each step contributes to the unique character of the woodcut print.
Liz Zanis (American, born 1980). Big Rocks, 2018. Woodcut and woodblock. Courtesy of the artist
Explore Woodcut Masterpieces
Discover a curated collection of woodcut prints at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and witness the breadth and beauty of this historical printmaking technique.
Diogenes, seated before his barrel, reading from a book, a plucked hen standing behind him at right
Two Women on the ShoreSee a selection of woodcuts in the Museum’s collection.
Marquee image: Christoffel Jegher (Flemish, 1596–1652/53), after Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577–1640). The March of Silenus (detail), ca. 1652. Woodcut, sheet: 17 5/8 x 13 3/8 in. (44.7 x 33.9 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1951 (51.501.7695)
