Reductive Woodcut
Printmaking is an artistic technique that involves drawing or carving an image onto a rigid surface, known as a matrix, and then transferring that image onto another surface, usually paper, through a printing process. It is one of the oldest forms of image reproduction.
Main characteristics of printmaking:
Matrix: can be made of metal (such as copper or zinc), wood, linoleum, stone, or even synthetic materials.
Inking: ink is applied to the worked matrix.
Printing: the image is transferred to paper by pressure, using a press or manually.
Multiplicity: allows for multiple copies of the same design, called prints or impressions.
Reductive Woodcut is a relief printmaking technique where the artist prints multiple layers of color from a single plate, carving it a little more after each impression. As the process progresses, the already carved areas are “lost,” meaning they cannot be reused for future prints.
