Artwork
The Millennium Ark
The Millennium Ark is a print by Vitaly Moiseev. It dates from 2000 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The artist carved the design into hard wood with a sharp tool, then pressed ink onto paper.
This print shows a detailed wooden scene made by Vitaly Moiseev around the year 2000. It’s a modern take on an old engraving method called wood engraving. The artist carved the design into hard wood with a sharp tool, then pressed ink onto paper.
The print was made to celebrate the year 2000. It was part of a special project where twenty-six artists worked together on one big piece.
Want to see more? Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
The Millennium Ark is a collaborative wood engraving created in 2000 to mark the turn of the century. Commissioned by the Society of Wood Engravers, it unites the work of twenty-six artists in a single composition. Each contributor designed a section of the scene, which was then assembled and printed by Paul Kershaw in two phases. The project reflects a revival of traditional engraving techniques within a contemporary artistic context.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a symbolic wooden vessel, evoking both biblical and maritime archetypes, as a metaphor for collective human passage into a new era. Its intricate surface is filled with finely carved figures, structures, and natural elements, suggesting themes of continuity, community, and cultural memory. The ark serves not as a literal narrative but as a unifying emblem for the collaborative effort behind its creation.
Technique & Style
Executed in the traditional wood engraving method, the image was carved into the end grain of hard boxwood using a burin, allowing for fine, precise lines. Ink was applied to the raised surfaces, leaving the recessed grooves untouched; when pressed onto paper, the result is a white-line image on a dark field. The style is detailed and linear, emphasizing texture and tonal contrast without shading, characteristic of the medium’s historical precision.
History & Provenance
The print was produced as part of a special initiative by the Society of Wood Engravers, founded in 1920 to preserve and promote the craft. Paul Kershaw, one of the participating artists, handled the printing process in two stages to ensure alignment and consistency across the composite design. The work entered the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains as a documented example of late 20th-century printmaking collaboration.
Context
Created at the turn of the millennium, the print emerged during a period of renewed interest in handcrafted printmaking amid digital advancements. The project responded to a cultural moment seeking tangible, collective expressions of transition. By bringing together multiple artists under a shared technical discipline, it reinforced the relevance of traditional methods in contemporary art practice.
Legacy
The Millennium Ark stands as a rare example of large-scale collaborative wood engraving in modern times. It preserved the Society of Wood Engravers’ mission to sustain the craft while demonstrating its adaptability to thematic and structural innovation. The work continues to be referenced in discussions of printmaking history and artist collectives, affirming the enduring value of hand-carved imagery.
Artist & collection
Artist
Vitaly Moiseev made a single large print titled The Millennium Ark around the year 2000.
