Boltetrykk

Boltetrykk is a traditional printmaking technique that uses a relief matrix composed of metal bolts to transfer ink onto paper or textile. The name combines bolt and trykk, the Norwegian word for print, reflecting the central role of bolts as the printing elements. The method is described as a niche practice within small‑scale crafts and artist printmaking.

The origins of boltetrykk are not well documented, but it is associated with folk and contemporary crafts communities in northern Europe that explored low‑cost, improvised means of making repeated textures. Practitioners often repurposed hardware-store bolts and simple frames, valuing the bold, geometric impressions that the bolt heads could produce.

In practice, the matrix is built by arranging bolts in a defined pattern within a frame and securing them in place. For some variants, a shallow relief is carved around the bolt heads to shape the overall design. Ink is applied to the raised surfaces, and the paper or fabric is pressed onto the matrix with a hand roller or press, transferring the ink and creating the printed pattern.

Common materials include assorted bolts, a backing frame, printing ink, rollers, and absorbent substrates such as heavyweight paper or textiles. Variations exist in bolt size, arrangement, and whether the bolts generate solely direct impressions or work in concert with a surrounding relief.

Boltetrykk is used for decorative papers, textiles, and experimental fine art prints. It is valued for its tactile texture and distinctive geometric motifs but remains a relatively obscure technique with limited mainstream dissemination. See also: relief printing, block printing, linocut, letterpress.