Xylography

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Xylography, an early form of wood engraving, was first seen in China in the 1st century. It is the oldest known engraving technique. The wood of a pear tree is cut with the grain. A sharp tool such as a chisel is used to create a relief for the ink to be laid in. This is called the blackline method. Bois de fil gave way to bois de bout. Box wood is favored instead. In this method, cubes are instead cut against the grain and then pasted together and polished smooth. Designs are executed in as a negative so that it will be correct in printing. A separate plate is used for each color. Wohlgemuth, his student Dürer, Laurens, Soulas, Chièze, Miro, Derain, Lorjou and others have used this technique.

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