Chao 

Ivan Bartlett made this woodcut print, titled ‘Chao’, sometime in the twentieth century. Woodcut is a relief printing process, meaning that the artist carves away the areas of the woodblock that will not hold ink. This can be done with knives, gouges, and chisels – humble tools that allow for bold and graphic results. Looking closely, you can see how the marks of the cutting tools define the image. Strong white lines articulate the figure and background, creating a dynamic composition. The texture of the wood grain is also visible, adding depth to the printed surface. Woodcut is an accessible medium, requiring relatively few resources. It has often been associated with social activism, allowing artists to create affordable images for wide distribution. The graphic style lends itself well to powerful messaging, making it a potent tool for communication. So, next time you encounter a print, consider the labor and material properties involved. It is a reminder that art is not just about the final image, but also about the process, the materials, and the social context in which it was made.