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Linocut
Linocut
from Wikipedia
The Mask by Frank Weitzel, 1930

Linocut, also known as lino print, lino printing or linoleum art, is a printmaking technique, a variant of relief printing in which a sheet of linoleum (sometimes mounted on a wooden block) is used for a relief surface. A design is cut into the linoleum surface with a sharp knife, V-shaped chisel or gouge, with the raised (uncarved) areas representing a reversal (mirror image) of the parts to show printed. The linoleum sheet is inked with a roller (called a brayer), and then impressed onto paper or fabric. The actual printing can be done by hand or with a printing press.

Multi-color linocuts can be made by successively printing with a different block for each color as in a color woodcut, as the artists of the Grosvenor School frequently did. As Pablo Picasso demonstrated, such prints can also be achieved using a single piece of linoleum in what is called the "reductive" print method. Essentially, after each successive color is imprinted onto the paper, the artist then cleans the lino plate and cuts away what will not be imprinted for the subsequently applied color.[1]

Technique

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Using a handheld gouger to cut a design into linoleum for a linocut print
Linocut printing; using a design cut into linoleum to make a print on paper

Since the material being carved has no directional grain and does not tend to split, it is easier to obtain certain artistic effects with lino than with most woods, although the resultant prints lack the often angular grainy character of woodcuts. Lino is generally much easier to cut than wood, especially when heated, but the pressure of the printing process degrades the plate faster and it is difficult to create larger works due to the material's lack of rigidity.

Due to ease of use, linocut is widely used in schools to introduce children to the art of printmaking, using it to complete many tasks in the art lesson rather than going straight for the pencil and eraser. Similarly, non-professional artists often cut lino rather than wood for printing. Nevertheless, in the contemporary art world the linocut is an established professional print medium, because of its extensive use by the artists of the Expressionist art movement, Grosvenor School, followed by Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.

Emergence of the technique in America

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Wet Afternoon, linocut in four color blocks by Ethel Spowers of the Grosvenor School group, 1930.

"Linoleum art" was first displayed in New York City in 1911 by the Czech émigré Vojtěch Preissig. In his publications on linocuts (1926–29) the respected American printmaker, Pedro Joseph de Lemos, simplified the methods for art schools and introduced new techniques for color linocuts, including the printing of the key block first.[2] The first large-scale color linocuts made by an American artist were created c. 1943–45 by Walter Inglis Anderson, and exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum in 1949.

Selected artists

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Born in the Soviet Union. Linocut by Peeter Allik.
Lublin Castle. Linocut on paper by Paweł Brodzisz, 37 × 47 cm.

See also

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References

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Further reading

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Linocut is a technique in which an artist a into a sheet of , inks the raised surface, and transfers the image to by pressing it manually or with a press, resulting in prints characterized by bold, flat areas of color and clean lines. Unlike woodcuts, linoleum lacks natural grain, allowing for smoother cuts in any direction and a wider variety of effects, while its softer composition makes it easier and more accessible for carving compared to wood. Invented as a floor covering in the mid-19th century from , cork dust, and other materials on a backing, was adapted for artistic use around 1910 as a cheaper, more forgiving alternative to traditional . By the early , it gained popularity among both amateur and professional artists for its low cost, directness, and versatility, particularly in educational settings and among modernists seeking simplified forms. The process typically involves sketching a on the block, using gouges or chisels to remove non-image areas and create the , rolling evenly across the surface with a , and then pressing damp onto the block to capture the design—often in multiple colors by registering successive layers from the same or separate blocks. This method's emphasis on reduction (progressively carving away the block for each color layer) enables complex, multi-hued compositions while maintaining the technique's hallmark stark contrasts and graphic quality. Linocut flourished in the and beyond, with pioneers like British artist Claude Flight promoting it through manuals and teaching color linocut in the 1920s and 1930s, influencing movements such as the Grosvenor School of . Notable adopters include , who employed it for bold, simplified forms in the late 1930s, and it later became vital in contexts like South African printmaking at Rorke's Drift from the 1960s onward, where its affordability supported socially engaged art amid political upheaval. Today, linocut remains a favored medium for its tactile immediacy and adaptability in contemporary , , and activist graphics.

History

Origins and Invention

Linoleum, the material essential to linocut printing, was invented by English manufacturer Frederick Walton in 1863 as a durable floor covering. Walton patented the process after observing the formation of a rubbery on oxidized in 1855, leading him to develop a composition primarily of oxidized (known as linoxyn), ground cork dust for texture, and a jute or backing for stability. This innovation addressed the need for an affordable, water-resistant alternative to traditional , quickly gaining popularity for domestic and industrial flooring. By the early 1900s, blocks began to be adapted for applications, initially in commercial contexts rather than . Manufacturers in and elsewhere employed for creating patterned wallpapers and textiles, leveraging its uniform surface to produce repeatable designs more efficiently than wooden blocks. This marked the practical origins of linocut as a technique, predating its widespread artistic adoption and demonstrating its utility in industrial . Compared to traditional , linoleum offered significant advantages that facilitated its transition to : its softer, more pliable texture allowed for easier with basic tools, while the absence of eliminated directional limitations and reduced the risk of splitting during incision. These qualities made linocut particularly accessible for beginners and commercial producers, enabling cleaner lines and a broader range of effects without the technical demands of harder woods. Early experimenters adapted these properties from traditions to simplify for both utilitarian and exploratory purposes.

Early Development in Europe

The refinement of linocut as an artistic medium began in the early 20th century, building on the invention of linoleum in Britain during the 1860s as a durable floor covering made from , cork dust, and other natural materials. Czech artist Emil Orlik emerged as a key pioneer around 1901, creating a series of three linocuts that depicted the stages of traditional Japanese woodblock printing, highlighting the technique's accessibility for artists seeking bold, graphic lines without the need for specialized skills. Orlik's experiments demonstrated linocut's potential for straightforward , making it appealing to those influenced by Japanese ukiyo-e aesthetics and the emerging movement, and his work helped establish it as a viable alternative to in European studios. By the 1910s, linocut gained traction among German Expressionists, particularly members of the group founded in in 1905, who valued its capacity for stark contrasts and raw emotional expression. Artists such as , who produced one of the earliest documented linocuts in 1903, and employed the medium to carve vigorous, distorted forms that captured the intensity of modern urban life and inner turmoil, often printing in black ink on simple paper to emphasize dramatic silhouettes. This adoption aligned with the group's rejection of academic traditions, using linocut's forgiving surface to achieve the jagged, energetic lines synonymous with . In Britain during the 1920s and 1930s, the Grosvenor School of Modern Art in further popularized linocut through the teachings of Claude Flight, who joined as a tutor in 1926 and advocated for its use in capturing rhythmic movement and vibrant color. Flight's handbook Lino-cuts: A Hand-book of Linoleum-cut Colour Printing (1927) instructed students on multi-block color printing, emphasizing fluid, dynamic compositions inspired by modern life, as seen in his own work Speed (c. ), which depicts a bustling omnibus with sweeping lines and layered hues. Under his guidance, artists like Cyril Power and produced linocuts that stressed pattern and tempo, often registering colors from separate blocks to achieve a sense of motion. The medium's affordability contributed to linocut's influence on and modernist graphics across , where it appeared in bold posters and book illustrations evoking geometric elegance and everyday vitality. For instance, Grosvenor School artists created posters like Power's The Eight (1930), promoting cultural events with rhythmic figures and saturated colors that epitomized the era's decorative optimism.

Emergence and Growth in America

The introduction of linocut to the occurred in 1911, when Czech émigré artist Vojtěch Preissig displayed "linoleum art" in , marking the first public exhibition of the medium in America and sparking initial interest among local printmakers. Preissig, who had experimented with the technique in , brought his expertise to the U.S. after immigrating in 1910, using linocut to create bold, graphic works influenced by and symbolism. This debut helped establish linocut as an accessible alternative to , appealing to both professional artists and hobbyists seeking a simpler carving process. In the 1920s and 1930s, American art educator Pedro Joseph de Lemos played a pivotal role in promoting linocut through his instructional books and classes in , positioning the medium as an ideal pursuit for amateurs and students. De Lemos, who served as director of the Stanford Art Gallery and taught at institutions like the , authored key texts such as Linoleum Block Printing (1927), part of the Beacon Handicraft Series, which provided step-by-step guidance on techniques and emphasized its affordability and ease for home use. His efforts democratized the practice, integrating linocut into school curricula and community workshops, where it fostered creative expression without requiring expensive tools. The era saw significant growth in linocut under the (WPA) programs of the 1930s, as federal support for enabled artists to produce socially relevant prints on a larger scale, often depicting American life and labor. WPA graphic workshops across the country, including those in New York and , encouraged linocut for its low cost and versatility, resulting in thousands of prints distributed to schools and libraries to promote cultural access. Artists like Hale Woodruff utilized the medium for powerful, monochromatic works such as (ca. 1938), capturing rural themes with stark contrasts suitable for mass reproduction. This period's emphasis on aligned with linocut's strengths, contrasting with European influences like the dynamic, machine-age styles of the Grosvenor School of Art in . Post-World War II innovations further advanced linocut in America, exemplified by Walter Inglis Anderson's creation of large-scale color linocuts around 1943–1945, which pushed the medium's boundaries through intricate, nature-inspired designs printed on backs. Anderson, working in , produced nearly 300 such blocks between 1945 and 1949, often using surplus battleship to achieve expansive compositions depicting Gulf Coast wildlife and . These works, pioneering in their size and multi-block color registration, were first publicly exhibited in 1949 at the , following a 1948 showing at the Brooks Art Gallery in Memphis, highlighting linocut's potential for bold, decorative applications.

Mid-20th Century Revival and Global Spread

Following , linocut experienced a notable resurgence in , driven by prominent artists who expanded its technical possibilities and artistic potential. began experimenting with linocut as early as 1939 but intensified his work in the 1950s and 1960s, innovating the reduction method for multi-color prints. This technique involved progressively carving and printing from a single block, layering colors in sequence without separate blocks for each hue, allowing for complex compositions with fewer materials. A seminal example is his Still Life under the Lamp (1962), a vibrant multi-color linocut that exemplifies the method's capacity for depth and tonal variation through successive reductions. Henri Matisse, in his late career during the 1930s and 1940s, also turned to for book illustrations, such as the illustrations for Pasiphaé (), leveraging its bold, simplified forms to convey essential shapes and contrasts. Confined by health issues, Matisse produced linocuts that emphasized graphic clarity and expressive outlines, as seen in works for literary editions where the medium's stark suited his abstracted style. These efforts, alongside Picasso's, elevated linocut from a utilitarian to a sophisticated form, inspiring broader artistic adoption. The technique's global spread accelerated in the post-war era, reaching indigenous and folk traditions outside Europe. In Canada, Inuit artists in Cape Dorset adapted linocut starting in the late 1950s, influenced by James Houston's introduction of printmaking techniques originally derived from stone-cut methods. This adaptation facilitated economical production of narrative scenes from daily life, integrating linocut into community cooperatives for cultural preservation and economic sustainability. In Latin America, particularly Mexico, linocut gained traction through the Taller de Gráfica Popular (founded 1937), where artists like Leopoldo Méndez employed it for socially charged folk-inspired prints addressing labor and indigenous themes during the mid-20th century. Similarly, in Asia, linocut was adopted for folk art in regions like China and India, blending with local woodblock traditions to produce affordable posters and illustrations that propagated cultural motifs and propaganda in the post-colonial period. Enhanced accessibility contributed to this worldwide revival, as commercial production of battleship gray linoleum sheets—thicker, durable industrial variants—became widely available after the . These standardized sheets, originally for , offered artists a consistent, carveable surface that democratized linocut beyond specialized workshops, fostering experimentation in educational and community settings globally.

Technique and Materials

Essential Materials

Linocut requires a selection of specialized materials to facilitate the carving and transfer of designs from a block to paper. The core material is , a resilient yet carveable surface originally developed in the as a floor covering before its adaptation for artistic . Traditional battleship , known for its dense and firm composition made from oxidized , cork, and resins on a burlap backing, provides durability for detailed work but demands more physical effort during carving due to its hardness. In contrast, modern artists' , such as Speedball's Speedy-Carve or similar softer variants, incorporates synthetic materials like (PVC) for easier cutting and reduced crumbling, making it ideal for beginners and intricate designs while maintaining print quality. These variations allow artists to choose based on the desired level of detail and carving ease, with softer blocks often preferred for their accessibility. Carving tools are essential for removing non-printing areas from the linoleum to create raised relief surfaces. Gouges with U-shaped blades excel at clearing broad spaces efficiently, while V-shaped blades produce fine lines and sharp edges for detailed outlines. These blades are typically mounted on ergonomic handles, often made of wood or plastic, to provide secure grip and interchangeable options for versatility. Safety is paramount when using these sharp tools; artists should always carve away from their body, secure the block with a bench hook to stabilize it, and keep hands positioned behind the blade to minimize injury risk. Inks suitable for linocut are formulated for to adhere well to the raised surfaces without bleeding into carved areas. Oil-based relief inks, such as those from or Caligo Safe Wash, offer rich pigmentation and longevity on , with the latter variant allowing cleanup using soap and water for environmental and practical benefits. Water-based inks, like Essdee Premium, provide a non-toxic alternative that dries faster and cleans easily with water, though they may require testing for vibrancy on specific surfaces. For even application, brayers—soft rubber rollers—are used to roll across the block, ensuring uniform coverage without excess buildup in fine details. The final transfer of the inked image relies on appropriate printing surfaces and aids. Printmaking papers, such as 100% cotton rag varieties like BFK Rives, are preferred for their absorbency and strength; dampening the slightly enhances ink absorption and detail transfer, particularly for hand-printed works. To apply pressure, a baren—a flat, handheld tool with a flexible surface—allows manual rubbing for even impression, while small presses provide consistent force for larger blocks or results. These elements collectively ensure crisp, repeatable prints from the carved .

Basic Printing Process

The basic printing process for a single-color linocut involves several sequential steps, beginning with the preparation of the design on the linoleum block. Artists draw the image directly onto the linoleum surface using a pencil, or transfer it via tracing paper or carbon paper for precision, ensuring that any included text is rendered in mirror image to account for the reversal that occurs during printing. This step allows for adjustments to the composition before carving begins, emphasizing bold lines and high-contrast areas suitable for relief printing. Carving follows, where the negative spaces—those areas that will remain unprinted—are removed from the to leave the positive raised. Specialized gouges and knives are used, starting with broader tools to large shapes and progressing to finer ones for details, always carving away from the body for , often secured on a bench hook. If the linoleum is firm or cold, it can be softened by gentle heating with a warm iron or covered in fabric to facilitate easier cutting without damaging the surface. The linoleum's relative softness compared to makes this process more accessible, though care is taken to avoid undercutting the raised areas. Once carved, the block is to prepare for transfer. Oil- or water-based printing ink is first rolled out thinly on a flat surface like or Plexiglas using a to achieve even consistency, then applied uniformly across the raised surfaces of the , avoiding excess buildup in grooves by wiping if necessary. This ensures crisp edges and consistent color in the final print. Printing transfers the inked to or fabric. The is placed over the inked block, and is applied either by hand-rubbing with a baren or in circular motions for even contact, or via a for more uniform results. The block's face-up orientation during this step allows for manual control, with the structure ensuring ink adheres only to raised areas. After pulling the print, it is set aside to ; oil-based inks typically require 1-2 days or more in a warm, dry environment due to oxidation , while water-based inks dry faster, often within hours, though exact times vary by formulation and absorbency.

Multi-Color and Advanced Methods

The reduction method, also known as the progressive or "suicide" technique, involves carving and printing successive color layers on a single linoleum block, with each subsequent carving removing material permanently to reveal the next layer. This approach limits the edition size, as the block is progressively destroyed and cannot be used to reprint earlier colors once altered. Although popularized by starting in 1959 through his collaboration with printer Hidalgo Arnéra, the technique predates him, with documented uses by Australian artist Murray Griffin in 1932. In contrast, the multiple-block technique employs separate blocks for each color, allowing for unlimited editions since blocks remain intact after . Precise alignment, or registration, is achieved using systems such as corner keys—L-shaped tabs on the that fit into corresponding notches on each block—or registration pins that punch holes in the to guide placement. This method builds the image through sequential overprinting, typically starting with the lightest colors and progressing to darker ones for better coverage. The jigsaw method offers another single-block alternative for multi-color prints, where the carved linoleum is physically cut into interlocking pieces corresponding to distinct color areas, inked individually, and reassembled like a puzzle before each impression. This technique enables complex color layering without progressive carving, though it requires careful cutting to maintain piece alignment during reassembly. Advanced variations in linocut extend these methods to achieve tonal depth and scale. effects, adapted from woodcut traditions, use a key block for fine line details (often inked black) combined with one or more tone blocks in lighter colors or grays to simulate and shadow contrasts. Large-scale presents challenges such as uneven distribution across expansive blocks, where drying times increase and manual pressure may cause slippage, often necessitating etching presses or specialized rollers for consistent results. In modern practice, digital aids like image-editing software (e.g., Photoshop) assist with registration by overlaying color separations to plan block alignments precisely before carving.

Notable Artists and Works

Pioneers and Early Adopters

Emil Orlik, a Czech-Austrian printmaker active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, played a pivotal role in the initial adoption of linocut as a viable artistic medium. In 1901, he produced one of the earliest known series of linocuts, including a triptych depicting aspects of traditional Japanese woodblock printing processes, which demonstrated the technique's potential for graphic simplicity and bold forms. Orlik's portraits and illustrative works from this period, such as those exploring everyday subjects with reduced lines and flat colors, highlighted linocut's accessibility compared to woodcut, influencing subsequent European printmakers. Vojtěch Preissig, a Czech artist and educator, introduced linocut to the in the early through his and exhibitions. Arriving in New York in 1910, Preissig began incorporating linoleum blocks into woodcut instruction at the Art Students League in 1912 and later at Columbia University's Teachers College, where he adapted the technique for classroom use to teach to students. His 1911 exhibitions in America, featuring experimental prints, marked the first public exposure of linocut across the Atlantic, bridging European innovations with American craft education. Preissig's own linocuts during this time explored modernist themes with dynamic patterns, encouraging broader adoption among U.S. artists and designers. Claude Flight, a British artist and educator, founded the linocut program at the Grosvenor School of Modern Art in during the 1920s, transforming the medium into a tool for expressing modern life's rhythm and energy. As principal instructor from 1926, Flight developed a distinctive approach to color linocut, using multiple blocks to layer vibrant hues and curved lines that conveyed motion, inspired by principles. His seminal work Speed (ca. 1922), a color linocut depicting a bustling street scene with a and pedestrians, exemplifies this style through its swirling forms and bold contrasts, capturing urban dynamism on Japanese paper. Flight's teachings at Grosvenor emphasized linocut's democratic appeal, making it accessible for expressing contemporary themes without traditional skills. Ethel Spowers, an artist who studied at the Grosvenor School under Claude Flight from 1928 to 1929, exemplified the medium's decorative and modernist potential in her early works. Returning to , Spowers produced linocuts like Wet Afternoon (1929–1930), a multi-block color print showing children in raincoats under umbrellas, with rhythmic patterns and flattened perspectives that highlight linocut's capacity for vibrant, stylized compositions. Her 1930 exhibition in showcased these pieces, promoting linocut's adaptability for illustrating everyday scenes with a decorative flair influenced by Grosvenor techniques. Spowers' contributions helped disseminate the school's methods to , fostering a local interest in color during the .

20th-Century Masters

elevated linocut to new heights beginning with his first experiments in the medium in 1939, during the onset of , when he created simple yet expressive single-color prints reflecting themes of human suffering akin to his earlier La Femme qui pleure series from 1937. These initial works marked Picasso's introduction to the technique's direct carving and printing process, allowing for bold, immediate expression without the need for multiple blocks. In the 1950s and 1960s, collaborating with master printer Hidalgo Arnera in , Picasso pioneered the reduction linocut method, carving away portions of a single block progressively to build multi-color layers in a single edition. This innovative approach produced masterpieces like the Still Life series, including Still Life under the Lamp (1962), where vibrant overlaps of color—such as greens, reds, and yellows—created dynamic compositions of everyday objects, demonstrating his unparalleled command of form and palette in . Henri Matisse, in his final creative phase during the 1950s, embraced linocut as an extension of his paper cut-out technique, producing prints that captured the rhythmic, simplified forms seen in his seminal book (1947). Confined to bed after , Matisse adapted the spontaneous boldness of his cut-outs—vibrant shapes evoking circus performers and abstract motifs—to linocut's relief method, resulting in works like Visage (1953) that emphasized flat color areas and fluid lines. These linocuts, often executed with assistants, reflected Matisse's philosophy of "drawing with scissors" translated into carved , prioritizing emotional resonance over detail and influencing subsequent generations of printmakers. M.C. Escher mastered linocut to explore mathematical impossibilities and optical illusions, achieving extraordinary precision in his relief prints that blurred boundaries between reality and abstraction. In works such as (1938), though executed in woodcut, Escher's technique exemplified the meticulous control he later refined in linocuts like Rippled Surface (1950), where interlocking patterns of fish and birds transition seamlessly through tonal gradations printed from multiple blocks. His linocuts, often in black and gray-brown, highlighted tessellations and , drawing on geometric principles to create mind-bending visuals that combined scientific accuracy with artistic wonder. In the 1950s to 1970s, the Cape Dorset artists' collective in , , innovated relief printing by adapting traditional stone cut methods to linocut for broader accessibility and export, enabling intricate designs on softer materials suitable for international distribution. Led by figures like , the group produced thousands of prints depicting wildlife, myths, and daily life, with Ashevak's iconic works such as The Enchanted Owl (1960) showcasing fluid lines and symbolic imagery adapted from stone to for cleaner edges and easier production. This shift facilitated the global recognition of , with annual collections from 1959 onward blending cultural narratives and modern print techniques.

Contemporary Practitioners

In the 21st century, linocut has experienced a notable resurgence in educational programs and among hobbyists, driven by the widespread availability of affordable starter kits and the explosion of accessible tutorials since around 2000. These resources, including beginner sets from brands like and Essdee priced under $50, have democratized the medium, enabling classrooms and home studios to experiment with without specialized equipment. This accessibility has fostered a global community of amateur practitioners, with platforms like hosting thousands of step-by-step videos that emphasize safe, low-cost techniques. Contemporary artists continue to push linocut's boundaries with innovative themes and styles. American printmaker Damien Giudice, based in , produces large-scale linocuts that tackle environmental concerns, such as his multi-color piece Let There Be Sun, which integrates spiritual motifs with symbols of climate urgency and natural renewal. Similarly, Swedish artist Fia Print, working from her studio in , creates vibrant, multi-color linocuts that offer subtle on daily life, interactions, and cultural shifts in modern , often drawing from personal encounters and local landscapes. These works highlight linocut's versatility in addressing pressing societal issues through bold, layered color applications. The printmaking tradition in (formerly Cape Dorset), , persists through contemporary editions that fuse ancestral motifs with current realities. The 2025 annual collection, released on September 19, 2025, features 33 prints by 15 artists including veterans like Shuvinai Ashoona, incorporates linocut alongside stonecut and to explore themes of identity, environmental change, and cultural resilience in the . Ashoona's linocuts, for instance, blend traditional storytelling with depictions of modern experiences, such as urban migration and ecological pressures, maintaining the medium's role in community expression. Recent innovations have enhanced linocut's sustainability and scope. Eco-friendly inks, like polymerized linseed oil-based Caligo Safe Wash Relief Inks, allow water cleanup and minimize volatile organic compounds, appealing to environmentally conscious artists since their development in the late . Hybrid digital-linocut processes involve traditional blocks, scanning the results, and integrating them into software for manipulation before digital output, enabling complex compositions that bridge analog tactility with computational precision. In street art, linocut blocks serve as portable stencils for urban interventions, with contemporary practitioners like those in collaborative projects using them to produce temporary, site-specific prints on walls and pavements that comment on and .

References

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