In woodblock printing, an image is carved in reverse on a piece of wood, leaving the image's outline on the wood, and the block is then inked and printed on a substance like paper or fabric. It's a time-consuming process, especially if you want to add more than one color during the printing process.

How does Japanese woodblock printing work?

To create a woodblock print in the traditional Japanese style, an artist would first draw an image onto washi, a thin yet durable type of paper. ... The artist would then apply ink to the relief. A piece of paper would be placed on top of it, and a flat tool called a baren would help transfer the ink to the paper.

What is the purpose of wood block printing?

During the Tang and Song dynasties, woodblock printing has helped convey pieces of information more easily as it became easier to publish and spread a variety of texts. Printing also became a form of entertainment as the image of the carved wood can be transferred onto silk or paper.