Art Encyclopedia - Relief

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Relief
Relief is a carving, moulding or stamping in which the design projects from the background plane. The third dimension is reduced and/or condensed. The degree of projection depends on the extent of the reduction and/or condensation of the third dimension.

If the projection is comparatively slight it is called low relief, bas-relief or bassorilievo. If the projection is comparatively pronounced it is called high relief.

Relief sculpture is a complex and subtle art form, combining many of the qualities of two-dimensional and three-dimensional art. It should be remembered that relief sculpture is an art form in its own right; it is not an overdeveloped kind of painting or an underdeveloped kind of sculpture.