Illustration to Novalis, "Heinrich von Ofterdingen" 

This illustration to Novalis’s “Heinrich von Ofterdingen” was made by Imre Reiner, using a woodcut technique. Woodcut is one of the oldest forms of printmaking, with a fascinating history in both fine art and popular culture. In this process, the artist carves an image into the surface of a block of wood, removing the areas that will not be printed. The remaining raised surface is then inked and pressed onto paper, transferring the design. The linear quality, and the way that tones are built up through hatching, are both characteristic of woodcut. The degree of detail that Reiner achieves is remarkable, and shows great control of his tools. Woodcut has often been associated with folk art and illustration. This is because the materials are cheap, and the process relatively straightforward compared to other printmaking techniques. But as you can see here, woodcut can also be a medium for great sophistication. It’s a good reminder that artistic value isn’t just about the materials you use, but about what you do with them.