woodblock

A woodblock is a plank of wood, typically hardwood like boxwood, cherry, or holly, into which an image has been carved in relief. The raised surfaces hold ink, while the cut-away areas remain blank, making the block itself the printing form. For centuries, woodblocks have functioned as the primary production tool in both fine art printmaking and commercial text reproduction.

The wood grain and density determine the block's utility. Boxwood, favored for fine detail work, is extremely hard and tight-grained, allowing cuts as fine as 0.5 millimetres. Softer woods like cherry or apple are faster to cut but produce less durable blocks; a well-maintained boxwood block can yield thousands of impressions, whereas soft-wood blocks may deteriorate within hundreds. End-grain blocks, cut perpendicular to the tree's growth rings, resist splintering far better than side-grain planks.

Process and variants

The carver removes areas of wood using burins, scoops, and knives, leaving the design standing proud. This is the inverse of the final printed image. Industrial woodblocks for text and simple graphics were historically mounted type-high, at 0.918 inches (23.3 millimetres), to integrate with movable type on the same press bed. For art printing, particularly in Japanese and European traditions, blocks were inked by hand with brushes or leather pads, then printed by rubbing paper against the inked surface or passing it through a platen press.

Woodblock printing fell into commercial decline with the rise of photographic offset and metal engraving by the late nineteenth century. However, it remains significant in fine art printmaking and continues in commercial use for textile printing, where blocks are hand-stamped onto fabric with pigment pastes. The name is straightforward: a block made of wood, cut to form a printing block.

Deterioration occurs through seasonal wood movement, which causes checking and warping; dampness promotes rot and fungal growth; and repeated inking and pressure eventually crush fine detail. Blocks are best stored flat in a climate-controlled environment and cleaned promptly after use with soft brushes rather than aggressive solvents.