What is a low relief sculpture?

Understanding Low Relief Sculpture

Low relief sculpture is a type of sculpture in which the forms project only slightly from the background, meaning that the sculpture is not free-standing and does not detach entirely from its background. This kind of relief is also known as bas-relief, a French term meaning to carve in "low relief". The word "relief" itself is derived from the Latin verb relevo, meaning to raise.

Unlike the more dramatically projecting high relief sculpture, low relief sculpture creates fewer and shallower shadows, as the carved elements remain relatively close to the background surface. Carvers achieve this effect by cutting away the material around the subject of the sculpture carefully, giving only a slight sense of depth.

Sunken relief is a technique often used in ancient Egypt where the relief is carved into the background surface rather than projecting from it, creating a distinctive play of light and shadow suited to bright sunlight. On the other hand, a sculpture in the round is a free-standing sculpture that is meant to be viewed from all angles, completely detached from the background, unlike relief sculptures.