Relief

Relief: sculpture that is attached to and projects outward from a wall or panel.

There are three kinds of relief sculpture— low, high, and sunken.

Low relief projects only slightly from its background (also known as bas-relief).

High relief projects farther out from its background.

Sunken relief does not project at all—instead, shapes and forms are defined by carving into the surface.

Some of the earliest forms of sculpture involve carving into various surfaces made of stone.

Low Relief

High Relief

Sunken Relief

More examples:

Contemporary Relief: