linogravuurissa

Linogravuuri, also known as linocut, is a printmaking technique, a variant of woodcut. In linogravuur, a sheet of linoleum is used for the relief surface. The surface is carved with a knife or chisel, cutting away the areas that will not be inked and printed. The remaining surface, which is the image, is then inked with a roller. The inked surface is then pressed onto paper or fabric, creating a print. The process is similar to woodcut but linoleum is a softer material and lacks the grain of wood, allowing for more freedom in creating lines and textures.

Linogravuur is a subtractive technique, meaning that material is removed from the block to create the image. Areas that are cut away will not receive ink and will appear as white or the color of the paper in the final print. Areas that remain will be inked and will transfer to the paper. The linoleum block can be inked with oil-based or water-based inks. Multiple colors can be achieved by using different blocks for each color, or by using a reduction linocut method where the same block is carved and printed multiple times, with each printing adding a new color.

This technique is popular for its accessibility and the bold, graphic quality of the prints it produces. It is often used by artists for both fine art prints and for commercial applications like book illustration and poster design. The relative ease of carving linoleum compared to wood makes it a suitable medium for beginners and experienced printmakers alike. The lack of a wood grain allows for smooth lines and gradations, as well as sharp, precise edges.