Xylography: Difference between revisions
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Xylography was a method used for printmaking, involving relief cuts on blocks of wood to create texts and images. Mercadal writes in her article, “The technique allows for the creation of multi-colored prints by using multiple blocks, one for each color, and involves inking the carved surfaces before pressing them onto paper or another medium” (Mercadal para. 2). <ref> Mercadal, Trudy. “Woodblock Printing | Research Starters | EBSCO Research.” EBSCO, 2024, www.ebsco.com/research-starters/visual-arts/woodblock-printing. </ref> Xylography was the groundwork for many different printing methods, including linoleum block printmaking which is a form of art used quite often in today’s world for artists. | [[File:Xylography.jpg|thumb|269x269px|This is an image showing a printed page of text from the woodblock (xylography) process. <ref>Alamy Limited. “Page of Xylography or Wood Engraving about the Preposition from a Grammar Book Printed in Mainz by Johann Fust and Johannes Gutenberg, 1450. The Arts of the Middle Ages and at the Period of the Renaissance by Paul Lacroix, 1874.” ''Alamy.com'', Alamy images, 2025, [https://www.alamy.com/page-of-xylography-or-wood-engraving-about-the-preposition-from-a-grammar-book-printed-in-mainz-by-johann-fust-and-johannes-gutenberg-1450-the-arts-of-the-middle-ages-and-at-the-period-of-the-renaissance-by-paul-lacroix-1874-image507204330.html www.alamy.com/page-of-xylography-or-wood-engraving-about-the-preposition-from-a-grammar-book-printed-in-mainz-by-johann-fust-and-johannes-gutenberg-1450-the-arts-of-the-middle-ages-and-at-the-period-of-the-renaissance-by-paul-lacroix-1874-image507204330.html]. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.</ref>]] | ||
Xylography was a method used for printmaking, involving relief cuts on blocks of wood to create texts and images. Mercadal writes in her article, “The technique allows for the creation of multi-colored prints by using multiple blocks, one for each color, and involves inking the carved surfaces before pressing them onto paper or another medium” (Mercadal para. 2). <ref> Mercadal, Trudy. “Woodblock Printing | Research Starters | EBSCO Research.” EBSCO, 2024, [https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/visual-arts/woodblock-printing www.ebsco.com/research-starters/visual-arts/woodblock-printing.] </ref> Xylography was the groundwork for many different printing methods, including linoleum block printmaking which is a form of art used quite often in today’s world for artists. | |||
== History == | == History == | ||
It was used around the 8th century in Asia as a method for early printing and eventually became the foundation for typography. It was a method of printmaking that used woodcuts and woodblocks as a form of relief. It’s been used for texts and images to publish books. | It was used around the 8th century in Asia as a method for early printing and eventually became the foundation for typography. It was a method of printmaking that used woodcuts and woodblocks as a form of relief. It’s been used for texts and images to publish books. | ||
In his book, Robinson explains, "The earliest examples of Chinese woodblock printing, or xylography, are from about the eighth century, during the Tang Dynasty (618-907)...From China, printing technology spread throughout Asia, with particularly important innovations in Japan and Korea" (Robinson 76-77). <ref> Robinson, Solveig C. The Book in Society : An Introduction to Print Culture. Broadview Press, 2014. </ref> Xylography wasn’t able to keep up with the supply and demand of books, stepping down to allow more efficient methods to blossom, including typography. <ref> “Xylography: The Art and History behind the Printed Page | Outré Journal.” Outré Journal, 29 Dec. 2024, outrejournal.com/xylography-history-techniques-and-impact-on-printing-and-design/. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025. </ref> | In his book, Robinson explains, "The earliest examples of Chinese woodblock printing, or xylography, are from about the eighth century, during the Tang Dynasty (618-907)...From China, printing technology spread throughout Asia, with particularly important innovations in Japan and Korea" (Robinson 76-77). <ref> Robinson, Solveig C. The Book in Society : An Introduction to Print Culture. Broadview Press, 2014. </ref> Xylography wasn’t able to keep up with the supply and demand of books, stepping down to allow more efficient methods to blossom, including typography. <ref> “Xylography: The Art and History behind the Printed Page | Outré Journal.” Outré Journal, 29 Dec. 2024, [https://outrejournal.com/xylography-history-techniques-and-impact-on-printing-and-design/ outrejournal.com/xylography-history-techniques-and-impact-on-printing-and-design/]. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025. </ref> | ||
[[File:Xylography 2.jpg|left|thumb|This is an image showing the first step of the xylography process. They're making relief cuts on a wooden block. <ref>Harvey, L. E. “X: Xylography.” ''Blogspot.com'', 2016, [https://laurenshiro.blogspot.com/2013/04/x-xylography.html laurenshiro.blogspot.com/2013/04/x-xylography.html.] Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.</ref>]] | |||
== Woodblock Printing Steps == | == Woodblock Printing Steps == | ||
The process of xylography is similar to other processes used in the publishing industry, including lithography, but wood is used rather than steel or metal to create the tablet used for printing. The original text is transferred to wooden blocks by using relief cuts. The block is inked up to print on the paper before the paper is left out to dry. Once all the pages are printed, the book is binded together. <ref> “What Is: Xylograph.” Holistic Health Pathways, 21 Nov. 2025, holistichealthpathways.com/glossario/what-is-xylograph-understanding-wood-engraving/. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025. </ref> | The process of xylography is similar to other processes used in the publishing industry, including lithography, but wood is used rather than steel or metal to create the tablet used for printing. The original text is transferred to wooden blocks by using relief cuts. The block is inked up to print on the paper before the paper is left out to dry. Once all the pages are printed, the book is binded together. <ref> “What Is: Xylograph.” Holistic Health Pathways, 21 Nov. 2025, [https://holistichealthpathways.com/glossario/what-is-xylograph-understanding-wood-engraving/ holistichealthpathways.com/glossario/what-is-xylograph-understanding-wood-engraving/.] Accessed 24 Nov. 2025. </ref> | ||
== Publishing Industry == | == Publishing Industry == | ||
Revision as of 14:05, 24 November 2025
Xylography was a method used for printmaking, involving relief cuts on blocks of wood to create texts and images. Mercadal writes in her article, “The technique allows for the creation of multi-colored prints by using multiple blocks, one for each color, and involves inking the carved surfaces before pressing them onto paper or another medium” (Mercadal para. 2). [2] Xylography was the groundwork for many different printing methods, including linoleum block printmaking which is a form of art used quite often in today’s world for artists.
History
It was used around the 8th century in Asia as a method for early printing and eventually became the foundation for typography. It was a method of printmaking that used woodcuts and woodblocks as a form of relief. It’s been used for texts and images to publish books. In his book, Robinson explains, "The earliest examples of Chinese woodblock printing, or xylography, are from about the eighth century, during the Tang Dynasty (618-907)...From China, printing technology spread throughout Asia, with particularly important innovations in Japan and Korea" (Robinson 76-77). [3] Xylography wasn’t able to keep up with the supply and demand of books, stepping down to allow more efficient methods to blossom, including typography. [4]
Woodblock Printing Steps
The process of xylography is similar to other processes used in the publishing industry, including lithography, but wood is used rather than steel or metal to create the tablet used for printing. The original text is transferred to wooden blocks by using relief cuts. The block is inked up to print on the paper before the paper is left out to dry. Once all the pages are printed, the book is binded together. [6]
Publishing Industry
Xylography was an important method for early printing in Asia as well as some countries in Europe. It was an essential foundation for more efficient printmaking methods, both in the publishing industry and the art world.
Notes
- ↑ Alamy Limited. “Page of Xylography or Wood Engraving about the Preposition from a Grammar Book Printed in Mainz by Johann Fust and Johannes Gutenberg, 1450. The Arts of the Middle Ages and at the Period of the Renaissance by Paul Lacroix, 1874.” Alamy.com, Alamy images, 2025, www.alamy.com/page-of-xylography-or-wood-engraving-about-the-preposition-from-a-grammar-book-printed-in-mainz-by-johann-fust-and-johannes-gutenberg-1450-the-arts-of-the-middle-ages-and-at-the-period-of-the-renaissance-by-paul-lacroix-1874-image507204330.html. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.
- ↑ Mercadal, Trudy. “Woodblock Printing | Research Starters | EBSCO Research.” EBSCO, 2024, www.ebsco.com/research-starters/visual-arts/woodblock-printing.
- ↑ Robinson, Solveig C. The Book in Society : An Introduction to Print Culture. Broadview Press, 2014.
- ↑ “Xylography: The Art and History behind the Printed Page | Outré Journal.” Outré Journal, 29 Dec. 2024, outrejournal.com/xylography-history-techniques-and-impact-on-printing-and-design/. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.
- ↑ Harvey, L. E. “X: Xylography.” Blogspot.com, 2016, laurenshiro.blogspot.com/2013/04/x-xylography.html. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.
- ↑ “What Is: Xylograph.” Holistic Health Pathways, 21 Nov. 2025, holistichealthpathways.com/glossario/what-is-xylograph-understanding-wood-engraving/. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.
