This woodblock was cut for the cover of the upcoming edition How Jason Conquered the Golden Fleece. It’s carved from cherrywood, measuring 140×100 mm.
The block took shape over many February 2025 evenings, and I'm very happy with the result. The original inspiration comes from the Libre appellat Consolat de mar, printed in Barcelona in 1518. Cutting a wooden ship had long been on my wish list, and this edition provided the perfect opportunity.
Interestingly, the ship depicted is not an ancient Greek galley – the kind Jason would have sailed – but a medieval carrack. This is quite typical for the period: artists often represented historical or mythological scenes using contemporary imagery familiar to their audience. In this case, the Argo appears much like the merchant or exploration ships of the 15th and early 16th century.
The block was cut using a knife and a variety of gouges, but one special – and somewhat unusual – tool made a big difference: a jeweler's hand drill. With extremely fine, delicate bits, it allowed me to create the tiny circles in the ship’s rigging, which would have been nearly impossible to carve cleanly otherwise. I'm particularly pleased with how the prints capture these fine details.
