The Ancient Art of Subtracting Images

A woodcut is created not by adding ink to a canvas, but by carving away everything you do not want to see. The image remains as a raised surface, turning the act of printing into a process of strategic destruction.

Artists use sharp tools to remove the wood from a block, leaving behind only the design elements that will touch the paper. Because the ink only clings to the raised parts, the artist must think in reverse to visualize their final work. This technique has been used for centuries to mass-produce illustrations before modern printing existed. It is a labor-intensive process where one single mistake in the wood grain can force the artist to start over completely.