Relief

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Relief is an artistic technique where sculpted elements remain securely attached to a solid background of the same material. The term relief originates from the Latin verb relevo, meaning to elevate. To create a sculpture in relief gives the impression that the sculpted material has been elevated above the background plane. What actually occurs when a relief is cut into a flat surface of stone or wood is a lowering of the field, leaving the unsculpted parts appearing raised. This technique involves considerable chiseling away of the background, which requires patience and time. On the other hand, a relief eliminates the need to form the rear of a subject, making it less fragile and more securely anchored than a sculpture in three dimensions, especially one of a standing figure where the ankles are a potential weak point, particularly in stone. In materials such as metal, clay, plaster stucco, ceramics, or papier-mâché, the form can be simply added to or elevated from the background, and massive bronze reliefs are created by casting.