Woodcut, the oldest known form of printmaking, is a method of relief printing in which the negative space of the composition is carved out of a wooden block. Ink is applied to the woodblock which is then hand-stamped onto paper. Unlike intaglio processes such as etching and engraving, woodcuts do not require a printing press to transfer their images to paper.
Woodcut prints were popularized in the 14th century because they were inexpensive to create and distribute and had long printing runs due to the longevity of woodblocks. The fragility of wood during the carving process created the characteristic woodcut style of thick outlines and little to no shading. In the late 16th century, German artist Albrecht Dürer revolutionized the art of woodcut, producing works famous for their almost drawing-like appearance. In Dürer’s The Marriage of the Virgin, which depicts a wedding scene in a church, the three-dimensional space is masterfully captured with delicate shading. Woodcuts fell out of fashion in late 17th-century Europe as etchings and engravings grew in popularity, since they allowed for more precise images. In the late 20th century, however, woodcuts reemerged in Western art as artists like Leonard Baskin embraced their unique style.
Written by Madeline Shean, edited by Simone Edgar Holmes
Bibliography
“Baskin: Graphic Force, Humanist Vision.” RSS. Accessed September 15, 2020. http://art-for-a-change.com/blog/2007/08/baskin-graphic-force-humanist-vision.html.
“Albrecht Dürer Woodcuts.” Albrecht Dürer Woodcuts. Accessed September 15, 2020. http://www.albrechtdurer.org/woodcuts/.
“The Printed Image in the West: Woodcut.” The Met. Accessed September 15, 2020. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/wdct/hd_wdct.htm.
“Woodcut in Art: Definition, Artists & History.” Study.com. Accessed September 15, 2020. https://study.com/academy/lesson/woodcut-in-art-definition-artists-history.html.
