Xylography (from Greek: ξυλογραφία, xylon, “wood” +γραφία, “writing”) is an old printing technique used for producing woodblock prints. Xylography, which involved carving images into wooden blocks, inking, and pressing them onto paper, was a widely used technique during book printing in the 15th and 16th centuries.
European printers adopted xylography, which was first developed in China. The first book printed in this fashion in Europe was the Gutenberg Bible, which appeared in the 1450s.
Xylography became less prevalent in the 17th century as engraving and etching gained prominence. Nevertheless, xylography continued to be employed in some kinds of print, for instance, playing cards.
Xylography is the printing procedure where a carved wooden block covered with images or text is inked twice and pressed onto the paper to make prints. Books, illustrations, and other works of art were printed this way during the 15th and 16th centuries.
Xylographic prints date back as far as Europe’s fourteenth century, where they served as devotional images. However, xylography was used for book printing and literature works in the 15th century. The movable type printing press was invented in Germany by Johannes Gutenberg, who employed xylography in the production of books, making them affordable and accessible.
In conclusion, xylography is a process whereby a wood block carved image is printed on paper. In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, books, illustrations, texts, etc., were printed using it as a popular means. It enabled the mass production of printed materials, which, in turn, contributed to the dissemination of knowledge throughout Europe.