printmaking

Creating a picture or design by printing from a plate (woodblock, stone, or metal sheet) that holds ink or colour. The oldest form of print is the woodcut, common in medieval Europe, followed by line engraving (from the 15th century), and etching (from the 17th century); in Japanese printmaking, the production of ukiyo-e (‘pictures of the floating world’) using coloured woodcuts, flourished from the 17th century.

Lithography was invented in 1796.

The German artist Dürer created outstanding woodcuts and line engravings, and the Dutch painter Rembrandt was one of the first major artists to produce etchings.