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Carving is the art of creating a three-dimensional representation by removing material from a solid mass. This technique is a fundamental aspect of sculpture, where artists shape materials like stone, wood, or ivory into desired forms.1234

The process typically involves starting with a solid block and systematically reducing it. The sculptor first defines the main masses and planes, then refines smaller forms and surface details. Tools vary depending on the material; stone is often worked with chisels, while wood requires gouges and saws.2

Historically, carving has been a direct method, with the artist manipulating the material themselves. However, an indirect method also exists, where a model is created and then mechanically reproduced in the final material, though this is less common today.5

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