Relief Carving
A way of carving where the design sticks out from a flat background.
What is it?
Relief carving is a sculpting technique where the artist carves away the background so the main shapes stand out. It can be low relief (shallow) or high relief (deep). The walls of the Abu Simbel temple are covered with relief carvings showing Ramesses II's battles and religious scenes. The child's reflection mentions that the temple walls have rich reliefs and paintings.
Why it matters
Relief carving was used in many ancient cultures to tell stories and decorate buildings. It allows artists to create detailed scenes that last for centuries.
Where you've seen it
This list grows as you capture more objects with relief carving.