Printmaking originated in China in 105 AD. It was an efficient way to copy designs to be re-printed. Over the next 1912 years it massively increased in popularity. In the 1400’s Daniel Hopfer popularized the method of relief printing after using it to add designs and textures to armor. During the Han Dynasty, woodblock printing was popularized being used on silk. Printmaking is a unique art form because it has multiple mediums that all come out with products unlike any other art form. Such as using wood engraving, a letterpress, or woodcutting.

Printmaking is the art of carving, etching, or putting chemicals on stone canvases and working in the art. This form of art is important because, it preserves the history of paper and ink art from China. Printmaking also is a form of art that is still used today.

Printmaking was revolutionary because using an older form of art, people started creating paper money, magazines, books, posters, and billboards.This is important because we use these things everyday, when we pay for food, read magazines or newspapers, and when we do work in school on packets or in books.