Gustav H Wolff - Europa , 1923

Woodcuts are a type of relief printing technique in which an image is carved into a block of wood, ink is applied to the surface of the block, and the inked image is then transferred to paper or another surface. The areas of the block that are carved away do not receive ink and therefore do not print, leaving a raised image that is visible on the printed page. Woodcuts have been used for centuries to create illustrations, ex-libris and other printed materials, and are still popular today for their distinctive, handcrafted look and feel. They are often used in fine art prints as well as in commercial printing applications such as packaging, labels and posters.