ZHANG FUMING
Artist / Printmaker

A Case for Printmaking – Perspective from a Black-and-White Woodcut Printmaker
March 2025
 

Printmaking is a medium that transcends time, tradition, and technique. It has served both practical and artistic purposes, from reproducing texts and images to becoming a powerful tool for personal expression. Yet, while painting, installation, and sculpture are more readily understood and accepted as contemporary artistic languages, printmaking is often overlooked—dismissed as craft rather than fine art.
 

Black-and-white woodcut printmaking, in particular, is perceived as simple—perhaps due to its monochromatic nature or bold graphic lines. Early in my career, I encountered remarks that dismissed my work as "easy" or "unfinished." In response, I tried layering, deconstructing, and overcomplicating my work to challenge that perception. But I eventually realized that simplicity itself is a profound challenge. It demands clarity, precision, and control. Every cut in the wood is irreversible, each decision shaping the final image with no room for correction. This discipline requires as much intellectual rigor and technical expertise as any other fine art form.
 

The physicality of woodcut printmaking further distinguishes it. The act of carving, inking, and pulling prints is labor-intensive, requiring direct engagement with the material. This process embodies a tension between control and resistance, intention and spontaneity. The resulting works, though visually stark, carry layers of meaning, history, and symbolism.
 

Printmaking is also a deeply democratic medium. Its multiplicity—the ability to produce editions—challenges traditional notions of exclusivity in art. Rather than diminishing its value, this characteristic extends its reach, allowing a wider audience to engage with original works. In a digital age of rapid image production, the deliberate and tactile nature of printmaking offers an alternative: a slower, more intentional form of visual storytelling.
 

Despite its legacy and complexity, printmaking continues to be seen as a secondary discipline. This perception must change. Printmaking is not merely a means of reproduction; it is an art form that demands recognition on equal footing with painting and sculpture. Through its technical mastery, conceptual depth, and historical relevance, black-and-white woodcut printmaking remains a vital and evolving medium—one that deserves its place in contemporary art discourse.