Woodcut

Woodcut is a relief printmaking process in which an image is carved into a block of wood and printed from the raised surface. Areas that are cut away do not print, while the remaining surface receives ink and transfers the image to paper or another printing surface using pressure.

Woodcut printmaking is the oldest known printmaking process and has been practiced across many cultures and time periods. It is sometimes referred to as woodblock printing, a term that emphasizes the use of a carved wooden block as the matrix (the surface being printed from).

What is woodcut printmaking?

Woodcut printmaking is defined by how ink is transferred from the matrix. The artist removes material from the wood block so that the image remains raised. Ink is applied to the surface of the block.

When paper is placed on top of the inked block and pressure is applied—by hand or with a press—the raised areas transfer ink, creating the printed image.

Because the image prints from the surface of the block, woodcut is classified as a relief printmaking process.

How woodcut printing works

While individual approaches vary, the basic woodcut printing process follows a shared structure:

1. An image is planned with printing in mind (reversed, since prints mirror the block).
2. The artist carves away non-image areas from a wooden block.
3. Ink is rolled evenly onto the raised surface of the block.
4. Paper is placed on top of the inked block.
5. Pressure is applied by hand or with a press.
6. The paper is lifted to reveal the printed image.

This process can be repeated to produce multiple original prints from the same block, known as an edition.

Key characteristics of woodcut prints

Woodcut prints often share several visual and physical qualities:

• Visible wood texture
  The wood’s natural grain texture is often visible in the final print.
• Bold contrast
  Because large areas of the block may be carved away, woodcuts often emphasize strong light–dark relationships.
• Direct, physical marks
  Carving tools leave visible traces that reflect the artist’s hand and working method.
• Repeatability
  A single wood block can be used to print multiple impressions with consistent results.

These characteristics make woodcut well suited to expressive imagery, graphic compositions, and strong visual statements.

Woodcut and woodblock printing

The terms woodcut and woodblock printing are often used interchangeably. Both describe a relief process where an image is carved into a wooden block and printed from the raised surface.

In many contexts, “woodblock printing” is used as a broader or more descriptive phrase, while “woodcut” refers specifically to the printmaking process itself. On World of Printmaking, woodcut is treated as the process name, with woodblock printing recognized as a commonly used term for the same method.

Woodcut in art and visual culture

Woodcut has played an important role in the history of image-making. It has been used to produce illustrations, books, religious images, posters, and fine art prints long before photography or digital reproduction existed.

Across different cultures, woodcut has served both practical and artistic purposes, from early printed texts to contemporary printmaking practices. Today, artists continue to use woodcut in traditional forms as well as experimental and mixed-media contexts.

Woodcut vs other printmaking processes

Woodcut vs linocut

Both woodcut and linocut are relief printmaking processes. Woodcut uses a carved wooden block, while linocut uses linoleum, which is softer and lacks natural grain. These material differences affect carving resistance, texture, and the final printed image.

Woodcut vs wood engraving

Woodcut is typically carved along the grain of a wooden block. Wood engraving is carved into the end grain of hardwood using different tools, allowing for finer detail. Although both are relief processes, they are treated as distinct printmaking methods.

Can woodcut be combined with other processes?

Yes. Woodcut is often combined with other printmaking processes in layered or hybrid works. For example, a woodcut image may be printed alongside stencil-based color, or combined with digital elements in contemporary practice.

How to explore woodcut on World of Printmaking

This page provides an overview of woodcut as a printmaking process. To go deeper, explore related relief printmaking processes and comparisons to better understand how woodcut fits within the broader world of printmaking.

Woodcut is one of the foundational processes in relief printmaking and an essential method to know when learning how printed images are made.