Woodcut: The Art of Writing on Wood

The term ‘xylography’ – or woodcut – derives from the Greek and refers to the earliest known printmaking technique. Developed to reproduce images and texts in multiple identical copies, woodcut printing revolutionised the dissemination of visual and written culture.
How does it work? Imagine a small block of wood: this is the matrix, the core of the process. The engraver, using sharp tools such as gouges and knives, cuts away the wood around the preparatory drawing. This work requires both precision and sensitivity, as well as a thorough understanding of the wood grain, since it directly affects the final result.
Dense, fine-grained woods such as wild cherry, walnut, apple, and pear have traditionally been preferred. The parts left in relief receive the ink, while the recessed areas remain white. Once the block has been inked with a roller, a sheet of paper is laid on top and even pressure is applied. A mirror image of the engraved design is thus transferred onto the paper.
This process makes it possible to produce multiple identical copies from a single block.
When did this technique emerge? It is first attested in 2nd-century China, where it was used mainly to decorate textiles and objects. In Europe, it appeared during the Middle Ages within monastic communities, where it was employed in illuminated manuscripts. Over time, it spread to secular guilds of woodcarvers.
The production of ‘bambagina’ paper from cotton and linen rags at the end of the 14th century marked a decisive turning point, offering a durable surface well suited to printing.
The 15th century was the heyday of the technique. With the advent of movable-type printing, invented by Johannes Gutenberg (c. 1450), it became the primary means of book illustration. 
The combination of text and image enabled the wide circulation of ideas and knowledge, making works of art accessible to a far broader and more diverse audience than ever before.