What is linocut?

Linocut is a form of relief printmaking whereby a design is carved by hand into a sheet of linoleum. Ink is applied with a roller (brayer) to the remaining raised surface of the linoleum, which is then transferred to paper or fabric when pressure is applied, by hand-burnishing or by using a printing press. Essentially, the artist carves away the areas they don't want to print, leaving the design they do want to print raised (in relief). 

Linocut was originally developed as a technique in the late 1800’s/early 1900’s when linoleum became available as a cheap flooring material. It was utilized as a softer substrate for school children to carve in an effort to revive interest in woodcut printmaking. However, artists came to appreciate it as a new medium in its own right because of the ease of carving and the ability to achieve smoother printed layers from the smooth linoleum surface.

For most of my linocut prints, I have used Battleship grey linoleum - so named because it was originally used as hard-wearing & easy-to-clean flooring on military battleships – printed with my antique book press, Showcard proofing press or an etching press.