What is the oldest form of printmaking?

The oldest form of printmaking is woodcut, a technique that involves carving an image into a wooden block. The artist cuts away sections of the block, leaving the image raised on the surface. This raised image is then inked and pressed onto paper or other materials to produce a print. Dating back to ancient times, woodcut prints have been discovered in various cultures, including early examples from China during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE) and in Europe during the Renaissance.

Woodcut's historical significance lies in its role as one of the first methods to reproduce images and text, facilitating the spread of visual culture and ideas. This foundational technique laid the groundwork for subsequent printmaking methods, including those that followed, such as intaglio and lithography, which emerged later in the history of art.