basreliëf

Basreliëf, commonly spelled bas-relief, is a sculptural technique in which figures and forms are carved or modeled so that they project only slightly from a flat background. The image remains attached to a solid plane, and the overall depth is limited, producing a gentle, shadowed surface that is read as a narrative scene or decorative motif. It contrasts with alto-relief (high relief), where forms project more freely, and with sunken relief, where the design is cut into the background rather than raised.

Historically, bas-relief appears in many ancient cultures. Egyptian and Mesopotamian art used low relief on monuments and stelae; Greco-Roman sculpture refined the technique for temple friezes and decorative panels. In later periods, bas-relief continued in architectural ornament, metalwork, and coins, with Renaissance and Baroque artists employing low relief to decorate façades and interior spaces. In the modern era, bas-relief is used in public art, commemorative plaques, and as a cost-effective means to convey complex scenes on walls, metal plates, or plaster surfaces. It is also a common technique in 3D printing, sculpture casts, and film set design.

Technique and materials: reliefs can be carved directly in stone, plaster, or wood, or cast in bronze or resin from a mold. The degree of relief, the depth of projection, and the angle of viewing influence how light interacts with the surface, determining legibility and mood.