Wood carving is the craft or technique of engraving using
the medium of wood.

The original method was called wood cutting, since it used a knife rather than engraving tools and was developed c. 1400.

The outlines of the design to be engraved were put down on a side of smooth-grained wood, and, usually with a knife, the excess surface of the wood block
(all but the lines) would be cut away, a process called blocking. This left a set of raised wooden lines on the face of the block.

In order make a print of this engraving, thick ink would be applied to the raised design. This is known as a relief. Wood carving as a reproductive (rather than artistic) technique has been displaced by the printing technology.

Wood carving is now used to create bookplates,
fine art limited edition prints, book illustrations and
commercial artwork such as seen on here.