linocuts

Carved block prints

Linocuts are prints made by carving a design into a sheet of linoleum, inking the raised surface, and pressing it onto paper.

The technique produces bold, graphic images with strong contrast between printed and unprinted areas.

Linocuts became popular in the early twentieth century as a more accessible alternative to woodcuts, the linoleum being softer and easier to carve.

artform

printmaking

Producing images through impression

woodcutRelief print from timber
etchingAcid-incised metal print
monoprintSingular pressed image

studio · gallery · exhibition · portfolio · artist · edition · Picasso · Matisse

technique

block

Solid mass, or impede

reliefEasing of distress
matrixOrdered numerical arrangement
inciseCut into material

gouge · carve · subtractive · reduction · registration · transfer · edition · score · outline

tools

brayer

Hand roller for inking

chiselEdged carving implement
gougeConcave carving blade
burinPointed engraving implement

roller · speedball

printing

ink

Writing fluid

paperPressed pulp for writing
pressApply force downward
pullForce toward oneself

impression · burnishing · inking · registration · newsprint · edition · proof · pressure · coverage · bleed

texture

grainy

Rough with particles

embossedHaving raised design
tactileOf the touching sense
roughUneven in surface

matte · ridged · gouged · striated · hatched · crosshatched · stippled · bold · graphic · crisp

materials

unmounted

Not fixed in place

vinylSynthetic resin plastic
rubberElastic polymer from trees
washiJapanese handmade fiber paper

Categories

artworkpaintings, portrait, drawings, drawing, illustrations
printmakingprints, print, printing, woodcuts, woodcut
printsprint, fine art prints, art print, woodcut, lithograph
relief printingwoodcut, woodcuts, wood engraving, woodblock print, woodblock prints
Latin printmakingwoodcuts, lithographs, etchings, engravings, woodblock
craftssewing, knitting, painting, glue, scissors

Opposites

printmaking medium/technique

linocutsmezzotints

Tonal intaglio printing method

etchings · engravings · aquatints · drypoint · photogravure

artistic production method

linocutsoil paintings

Artwork using pigmented oils

watercolors · drawings · digital art · photographs · frescoes

artistic medium/reproduction method

linocutsdigital prints

Electronically produced images

photographs · photocopies · offset printing

Family

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G