Wood Engraving

木口木版 / late 18th century–present / Technique / Relief Printing

A relief technique cut into hard, smooth end-grain wood. Ink prints from the surface that remains, while fine cuts create white lines and small marks that build tone. It supports detail with little visible wood grain; its printing logic differs from metal engraving.

Wood Engraving — Thomas Bewick, original engraved wood block — photo: Gemena (2012); matrix rather than impression — Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 — Thomas Bewick, original engraved wood block — photo: Gemena (2012); matrix rather than impression — Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 · CC BY-SA 3.0

At a glance

Visual cues

Fine white lines divide black areas
Tone from small cuts and dots
Detail with little visible wood grain
Illustrations sized for printed pages

Best used for

Exhibitions and teaching that compare Wood Engraving with neighbouring print techniques
Publications studying lines, tones and paper through documented works

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Dictionary entry

Type: Keep lettering in the work separate from added labels; place medium, artist and date outside the image.
Composition: Establish black masses first, then divide them with fine white lines and dots.
Material: Check the collection medium record and the paper and ink; do not infer materials from screen colour alone.
Caution: The word engraving does not make this intaglio. Distinguish end-grain blocks from plank woodcuts and metal plates.
Further study: Thomas Bewick — wood blocks and book illustrations / End grain versus plank grain / Quentin Blake Centre — Wood engraving

Related entries

Woodcut (木版画)Same Relief Printing lineage.Compare Wood Engraving and Woodcut
Engraving / Burin Engraving (エングレーヴィング（彫刻凹版）)Shared effects: Technique.Compare Wood Engraving and Engraving / Burin Engraving

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