A woodcut print is a Printmaking Technique whereby the artist carves a block of wood with a knife and/or a chisel. Soft, fine grained wood is normally used. Once the wood block is carved it leaves a raised surface that is rolled with block ink and printed. Woodcuts create a graphic-like image, historically this style of printmaking has been very popular in Oriental art and in Renaissance Northern Europe Art. Woodcuts are characterised by bold designs of great beauty. These images were loved and appreciated by the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists and were an important factor in the development of modern art.
An Australian artist and printmaker who was very well known for creating many beautiful woodcuts depicting Australian landscape scenes and wildflowers was Margaret Preston. Her work is a wonderful example of this printmaking technique.
