This
photo was taken in 2000 as I was engraving a view of Exeter,
New Hampshire. I am cutting a line in the sky with a steel
graver. By carefully pushing the tool into the block,
little curls of wood are removed. The gravers vary in width
and shape, producing a variety of engraved lines and dots.
The graver tool slides back and forth along the thumb which
in turn is anchored on the surface of the woodblock. The boxwood block is resting on a leather bag
filled with sand, useful in allowing the block to be easily
rotated. After the block is engraved, the wood left
untouched, known as the "raised" portion, receives the ink
and will print black. The wood that has been removed by the
engraving process receives no ink and will show as white in
the print. The wood engraver brings light to a dark
background, much like the morning sun dispelling the
darkness of the night. Photo by David
Putnam
