A phrase used to describe certain woodcuts, particularly Japanese ukiyo-e prints, but sometimes also Provincetown or other Arts and Crafts relief prints. See woodblock and woodcut.

A generic term which applies to a technique of printmaking in which an image is transferred to paper from a carved piece of wood (woodcut), linoleum (linocut) or other material. After carving the image, the artist applies oil-based inks to the surface of the block, which is then pressed onto a piece of paper. Unlike engraving and etching, where the printer's ink lies in those areas which have been carved or etched, a block print takes ink on those areas that have been left untouched. These ridges are vulnerable to the pressure of printing, so block prints are best suited to small editions.

stamping the material with ink. The blocks are generally hand carved from wood and printed on the cloth in repeating patterns.

Fabric printed by hand, using carved wooden blocks. Can be distin­ guished from modern printing with metal rollers or screens by the marks of the joining of the pattern printed by different blocks. Screen printing has now been sub­ stituted almost entirely for hand blocking in the United States.

A relief-printing technique in which incisions made in a wood or linoleum block print white, and what is left in relief prints black.