Woodcut

Woodcut

Pieces of a flat block of wood are cut away using special tools. Ink is rolled onto the remaining raised area and pressed onto a surface, i.e. printed. When printed the image is a mirror reflection of the original cutout design. [MH] {NR}
Woodcuts were traditionally dependent on craftsmanship. The few creative geniuses that made them would have been content to let others produce prints from their designs. In the 1500s, a single wood block could yield thousands of copies to be sold for pennies apiece. Hence, individual ownership of pictures was within everyone's reach for the first time in history. [RA] {HI}