A Brief History of Wood-engraving From Its Invention

This volume opens a vivid portrait of wood‑engraving’s earliest days, tracing its uncertain beginnings on medieval playing cards and devotional prints that flickered across monastic walls. It surveys the spread of the technique from its Eastern origins into the artistic centres of Germany, Holland, Belgium, Italy, France and England, showing how simple outlines gave way to increasingly sophisticated images of saints and biblical scenes.

Through careful examination of surviving woodcuts—such as a richly detailed Virgin with four saints preserved in Brussels—the author reveals the craft’s technical evolution and the hands that shaped it. The book blends scholarly insight with clear descriptions of the works themselves, making the often‑obscure early history accessible to both collectors and curious listeners. By the end of the first act, readers will have a solid sense of how this humble medium grew into a vital force in European visual culture.