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 CHAPTER III

WOOD ENGRAVING

The technique of wood-cutting—The old masters—Albert Dürer and the German school—Holbein—The Italian wood-cutters—Early illustrated books in England—Its decline in the seventeenth century—Bewick and the revival in England—The followers of Bewick.

The Technique.—Engraving upon wood is a method of cutting away from the surface of the wood block all those parts not drawn upon by the artist, thus leaving the design standing in relief, just as the letters of type as used in printing.

The method of wood engraving is exactly the opposite of engraving on metal, in which the portions of the print required to be left white remain untouched, while the design is dug out of the metal. In wood engravings the portions intended to print black are left even with the surface, and the white parts are cut out.

In the early days of the art pear and sycamore wood were used and the designs were cut with a knife on the plank, that is with the grain of the