reliefs

Relief is a sculptural technique in which shapes are raised above a flat background. The figures remain attached to and emerge from the plane rather than stand freely. Relief can be integrated into architecture as decorative surfaces or used as independent works of art on walls, friezes, or panels.

Types include bas-relief (low relief), which projects only slightly from the background; high relief (alto-relief), which has a greater degree of projection and may show more depth; and sunken relief, where the image is carved into the surface so the relief sits below the original plane, creating a recessed image.

Materials and methods vary. Reliefs are produced by subtractive carving in stone or plaster, or by modeling and casting in clay, bronze, or plaster. Traditional tools include chisels, gouges, and mallets. Modern relief often employs mechanical tools and synthetic materials, expanding possibilities for texture and finish.

History and uses of relief sculpture span many cultures. It appears in ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Greek, and Roman art, where it decorated temple walls, tombs, and architectural friezes to convey narratives or commemorate events. In medieval and Renaissance periods, reliefs adorned churches and public buildings, while neoclassical and contemporary works adapt the form for sculpture, decoration, and public art.

Topography and mapping also employ the term relief. In geography, relief describes variations in the Earth's surface elevation. Relief maps and models convey terrain through shading, contour lines, and physical or digital representations, enabling the visualization of landscape form.