In the history of the development of fine arts, printmaking is a special art form and creation method, which is different from other types of painting, and black and white woodcut is the traditional representative of letterpress printmaking in the field of printmaking, because of the bright relationship between black, white and gray and simple production techniques, it is favored by the masses. Taking the relationship between the "knife language" of black and white woodcut as a clue, this paper studies and summarizes the author's development history and creative process of black and white woodcut, and explains and explains the current problems in the creative process.
With the development of modern prints in the emerging woodcuts, it served as an important means of propaganda for a period of time, although the works of the predecessors were not large, but woodcuts played the role of "daggers and spears", and played a huge role in special periods. Printmaking, as a visual art, has appeared in front of the public, and has transformed from "storytelling" to the author's own creative expression and intention expression. While pursuing the uniqueness of woodblock prints, the artist applied the charm of his own language to them. The process of creation is not to depict superficial phenomena, but is the essential characteristic of its art, and to tend to the artistic truth of the artistic ideas to be expressed.
Black and white woodcut prints, in their creation the organization of the knife technique is more strict. Based on the creative form of lines, it is more unified in visual form, highlighting the event center of the picture with the change of lines, and the contrast between black and white is relatively weakened in the overall picture, but is embodied in the details of the picture, the visual effect is more unique, and the form is long. For example, Li Hua's woodcut work "Roar! China", showing the awakening and struggle of the people at the moment of national crisis, the work projects a shocking impact, rough and powerful lines, depicting a Chinese who is about to be killed but is struggling, his body is tightly shackled**, his eyes are blindfolded, his muscles and bones are in a state of resistance, simple and exaggerated shapes, hoarse roar.
Knife techniques are expressive, and different themes require different knife techniques. The expressiveness of the knife technique plays a very important role in the overall effect of the picture, so it is necessary to strictly analyze the essential characteristics of the knife and the picture effect it will bring in the creation. We start with an overview of the characteristics of printmaking and black-and-white woodcuts, analyze the classification and production techniques of printmaking, and focus on the "knife taste" of black-and-white woodcuts and the formal rules of knife organization. This leads to the research and exploration of "figurative object modeling". Use modeling language to express the spiritual connotation of the picture. This paper summarizes the definition of "knife method", and expresses the dynamics of objects and the emotions conveyed through the organizational changes of knife language. Combined with the epochal nature of artistic development and the cultural and aesthetic background of the times, he breaks through the relative independence of knife techniques and analyzes and understands the forms and techniques through self-analysis.
The form of knife technique in woodcut prints has always been the object of frequent research by printmakers, and the visual effects produced by different knife techniques bring different feelings to readers. The shaping and expressiveness of the knife technique in woodcut prints is an important element that cannot be replaced in other paintings. When drawing and designing the picture, the artist considers the relationship between the knife technique and the subject matter and form, the composition of the dots, lines, and planes, and the whole and parts. However, in the creation of prints in recent years, I will explore more new forms of woodcut printmaking art and strengthen the expressiveness of knife techniques. In the history of Chinese printmaking, the use of knife technique in woodblock printing has always been its most prominent and obvious artistic feature, different knife techniques can produce different visual effects on woodblocks, and the infinite variation of knife techniques is the most prominent form of expression of woodblock printmaking as a major category of printmaking art. The main reason for the expression of woodblock prints, carving knives and the organization of knife language is related to the expression of knife style, according to traditional Chinese engraving prints, woodcut prints, and woodcut prints, woodblock prints show different knife forms in different periods. The main means of constituting the difference between black and white woodcut surfaces is the difference in knife technique. The success or failure of woodblock printmaking often depends on the quality of knife use.
In woodcut prints, different knife techniques contain different aesthetic tastes, so that the themes and forms expressed are also different. The expression of the knife technique needs to be consistent with the ideological interest of the picture, which not only requires the artist to take into account the cultural connotation of his work when creating, but also to be based on rational construction, that is, to explore a dynamic balance in the perceptual experience of playing the knife. I like the works of Fan Jingda, a printmaker in Anhui Province, whose work "Night Banquet" focuses on the depiction of points, lines and surfaces to show the priority of woodcut knives, and the layering of the knife technique is reflected in this work. The faces of the characters are immersed in black block surfaces, and most of the facial lines are dominated by lines, while the side-lit surfaces are mainly engraved with small areas, and the dots, lines and surfaces echo each other. He uses a very perceptual grasp of knife techniques, and in the whole, the points, lines and surfaces of each block surface produce different effect changes, making the black, white and gray tones distinct, and also making the rich changes of the lines more intriguing. The creative means of maximizing the characteristics of the material form a stronger and more concise version characteristic. At the same time, as the most intuitive visual language and important feature of black and white woodcut techniques, knife technique is also the most direct means of expression for artists to show the ideology and artistry of their works. The process of its application is the re-creation of the object image by the subject, and each step of development condenses the wisdom, ingenuity and painstaking efforts of the artists, conveying their understanding of life and their persistent pursuit of art. In this process, the knife technique has undergone fundamental changes due to the different purposes of creation, showing a diversified development trend. For artists, knife expression is an important artistic carrier for them to express their thoughts, show their personality, and convey their feelings. It is the most important language of black and white woodcut, which reflects the artistic interest and aesthetic value of black and white woodcut. The knife language of black and white woodcut is not only the carrier of the objective object, but also has unique aesthetic characteristics and emotional expression value, showing the unique artistic charm of black and white woodcut.
In the creation of black and white woodcuts, artists have a knife language that is consistent with their spiritual temperament and artistic personality, which is not only a unique artistic symbol of artists in their time, but also the main means for artists to convey emotions and resonate. In the process of carving, it is a pleasure to create different knife techniques, and emotions have a great influence on the treatment of knife techniques when creating. Our knife handling can change according to the constant changes in emotions and feelings at the time. This makes us realize that the rich emotions create the creation of knife techniques. Therefore, that art form should be given with sincerity, emotion, and soul, so that the work can be "lived", so that it also has thoughts, constantly embodied, constantly displayed, and exerted its value. In the process, the artist's unique knife language is compared with the characteristics of their times and personalities, and in this process, they continue to practice, compare with the ideas of their own works, sublimate their understanding of the knife language, and then find an independent language suitable for themselves. This is the practice and tempering process of black and white woodcut, and it is also the inheritance and learning process of knife language.
Author's Affiliation: Huimeng Printmaking Art Museum, Tunxi District, Huangshan City).