Woodcut Art | History and materials used

This branch of art, called woodcut art, dates back to ancient times. The art of woodcarving originated in the Middle Ages. Woodcut is a technique of painting and painting with a special method. The application created using this method and technique is called woodcut. Woodcut is an art that is difficult and consists of many stages.

What is woodblock art?

The art of wood blocking is the technique of cutting out wood blocks and printing them with printing ink for printing. This technique has been used throughout history in many parts of the world and has traditionally held an important place in many cultures. It is used in various fields such as woodcut art, printing, painting and design.

The surfaces resulting from cutting wooden blocks using different techniques are covered with printing ink and then printed on paper. The carving of wood blocks and the dimples and reliefs on the surfaces create a black and white or colored pattern or image in print. The great advantage of this technique is that a design can be printed repeatedly.

The art of the woodcut is not only distinguished by an important place in many cultures, but also stands out as an environmentally friendly art technique. Wood blocks can be recycled and reused. Also, woodcut inks can be formulated to have less impact on the environment.

History and development of woodblock art

The art of woodblock printing is one of the oldest printing techniques in human history. This technique is the process of cutting blocks of wood, usually some shape of wood, and printing designs and patterns with ink. The art of woodcarving originated in China in the 8th century and later spread to Japan and Korea. This branch of art has gained popularity all over the world over time.

The art of woodcarving was used in China, especially in book printing. This technique was used to print text and images using wooden blocks glued to the top of the pages. This technique came to Japan in the 10th century, where it was used to make various objects such as books, postcards, posters and clothing patterns.

Woodcut techniques began to be used in the Western world in the 17th century. In Europe, wooden blocks were used to print books and pictures. At the same time, this technique has been used in various applications such as textile and wallpaper patterns.

Woodcut printing entered a new era in the 19th century and distinguished itself with several technological developments. Color printing and engraving techniques are widespread in Europe and America. These developments increased the popularity of woodblock art and helped it evolve into different styles.

Materials and Tools Used in Woodblock Art

The art of wood blocking is achieved by cutting blocks of wood and printing designs and patterns with ink. The materials and tools used in this art are extremely important to the quality and accuracy of the print.

1. logs

Soft wood blocks are often used in woodblock art. Woods such as pine, mahogany, beech can be used as clichés. The quality of the woodblocks affects the clarity and detail of the print. The blocks must have a smooth, homogeneous and even surface.

2. Cutting tool

Cutting tools are used to cut logs of wood. There are different types of cutting tools such as burin, V chisel, U chisel, chisel bit, drill bit and line bit. The sharpness and variety of tools should be chosen based on the details of the pattern to be engraved.

3. Ink

The printing ink allows the design to be printed after it has been applied to the printing block. The inks used in woodblock art can be water-based or oil-based. Water-based inks have a more environmentally friendly and easy-drying structure. Oil-based inks, on the other hand, give a more permanent and vibrant color.

4. Roller or spatula

A roller or spatula is used to evenly apply the ink to the block. Rollers are used for applying ink to larger blocks, while spatulas are used for detailed ink application to smaller blocks.

5. Printing paper

The printing paper is placed on the block and makes it possible to print the pattern with ink. The quality and properties of the print paper affect the quality and clarity of the print. Printing paper can be thinner or thicker, smoother or textured, matte or glossy.

6. Press

After the print paper and block are inked, a press is used to apply the block to the paper. The press is an important factor that affects the quality and accuracy of the print. The press can be handmade or electric.

What is wood print?

Woodcut is a technique of painting and painting with special methods. Wood with a flat surface is required for woodcut. The image is drawn on the wooden block and the parts outside the image are cut out. The image is intended to create slight protrusions on the tree surface. These projections are inked and printed on a sheet of paper. Since the image image will appear inverted, it should be drawn upside down on the tree block.

How to print on wood?

To apply the art of woodcarving, you need a wooden block with a flat surface. You can draw and color any image on the block as you like. The parts other than the image on the block are cut out with a cutting tool.

After the cutting process is completed, ink is applied to the image we obtained and printed on suitable paper. With this process, it takes the trace of the image on the tree on the paper. The pattern on the paper should be printed upside down, not straight. For this reason, the person has to make the drawing and this is an important issue.

How should the tree be?

It is necessary to know the important points for woodblock art. Blocks obtained from pear, cherry, sycamore and beech trees are required for woodcut art. The characteristic of trees should be a soft structure. A soft and smooth texture is important for the art of wood printing. Ink is an important issue in woodblock art. The ink should be applied in a thin structure using a roller.

For what purposes is woodblock art used?

It is used in various fields such as woodcut art, printing, painting and design. It is especially popular in designs such as handmade, limited edition and special editions.

What is the history of woodcut art?

The art of woodcarving was first developed in Central China in the BC. It was used in the 7th century. Later it also became popular in Japan, India and Europe. In Europe, woodblock printing was used in the production of printing, religious posters, decorative art and even coins.

Is woodblock art an environmentally friendly art technique?

Yes, woodblock art stands out as an environmentally friendly art technique. Wood blocks can be recycled and reused. Also, woodcut inks can be formulated to have less impact on the environment.

What are the benefits of woodblock art?

A: The main advantage of woodblock art is that a design can be printed over and over again. In addition, this technique is easy to use and the cost required to achieve high quality results is low.