basrelief

Bas-relief, also written bas-relief or bas-relieff, is a sculpture technique in which figures or motifs project only slightly from a flat background plane. The term derives from the French bas, meaning “low,” in contrast with haut-relief, or high relief, where forms stand out more prominently. Bas-relief is a common form of relief sculpture used across many cultures and periods, from ancient times to the present.

In bas-relief the sculpted elements are attached to or carved from a background so that their depth remains shallow. Details are conveyed through careful modeling and controlled carving to create the illusion of volume while preserving the surrounding background. A related technique is sunken relief (negative relief), in which the design is cut below the original surface, leaving the surrounding material higher than the figure.

Materials and methods vary, but bas-reliefs are typically produced by subtractive carving from stone, marble, wood, or plaster, or by casting in metal with a raised design. The shallow depth of bas-relief makes it durable for architectural decoration and allows the artwork to be integrated with walls, friezes, and other surfaces. Lighting and viewing angles influence how shadows define the forms.

Historically, bas-relief has been employed in architecture, temple and monument decoration, friezes, and votive panels. It is also common on coins, medals, and decorative architectural elements. The technique enables detailed narrative scenes and symbolic imagery to be read clearly from a distance while remaining visually connected to the surrounding plane.