Diogenes before 1527

Ugo da Carpi made this print of Diogenes using a woodcut technique known as chiaroscuro. This process, using multiple blocks of wood to create different tones, layers color to mimic the effect of light and shadow. The material qualities of the wood itself influenced the final image. The grain of the wood, the way it accepts the ink, and the pressure applied during printing all contribute to the texture and depth we see. Da Carpi's skill is evident in the way he coaxes such detail from the relatively coarse material of the woodblock. Woodcut, while a relatively accessible printmaking method, demands precision and control. By using this medium, da Carpi is participating in a broader history of craft and artistic production. He elevates printmaking, often considered a more commercial and reproductive medium, to the realm of fine art. This challenges the traditional hierarchy, asking us to consider the skill and artistry inherent in processes of making.