What does woodblock mean?
A woodblock is a piece of wood carved in relief for use in printing. The raised portions of the design are inked, and paper is pressed against the block so that the ink transfers to its surface. Woodblock printing is one of the oldest forms of relief printing and was historically important in producing books, broadsides, textiles, and decorative images. The technique remains especially associated with fine-art prints, where the grain of the wood and the marks left by cutting tools can contribute to the final appearance. In contemporary usage, “woodblock” can refer either to the carved printing matrix itself or, especially in art contexts, to a print made from one. “Woodblock print” is the clearest term for the resulting image, whereas “woodblock printing” names the process. Together with related terms such as woodcut and wood engraving, it belongs to the vocabulary of traditional printmaking and helps distinguish methods based on the material, design, and tools used to transfer an image.
nounA block of wood carved in relief and inked for printing, or a print made by pressing paper against such a block. The term may also refer to woodblock printing as a printmaking technique.
- A block of wood with a design, image, or lettering carved in relief so that its raised surface can be inked and printed.
- A print or impression produced from such a carved wooden block, especially in art and decorative-print contexts.
"The artist created a delicate landscape by carving and inking a woodblock."
"The printer carefully inked the woodblock before pressing it onto damp paper."
"A colorful woodblock depicting cranes hangs above the studio workbench."
The plural is used for multiple printing matrices or prints. In attributive use, the usual forms are “woodblock print” and “woodblock printing.”
"The two woodblocks were aligned carefully before the artist applied ink."
In a woodblock print, the raised surface receives the ink and the carved-away areas remain white.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of woodblock
“Woodblock” is a transparent compound formed from Old English wudu, meaning wood, and block, the solid piece used as a printing surface. English “block” entered through Anglo-French bloc and was ultimately associated with Middle Dutch blok, referring to a solid mass or tree trunk. Related English forms include blockade and blockage, while the specialized sense of a carved printing matrix developed with the long-established use of wooden blocks in printing.
How woodblock is actually used
As a bare noun, “woodblock” often denotes the physical printing matrix, while “woodblock print” normally denotes the resulting image. In art-historical and decorative contexts, it may also stand for the print itself.
Easily confused with woodblock
A woodblock is the carved printing matrix, whereas a woodcut may name the carving process or the resulting image.
Wood engraving cuts into the denser end grain of a block with a burin, while woodblock printing commonly uses plank-grain wood and broader cutting tools.