The three main types of relief sculptures are low (bas) relief, high relief, and sunken relief. I think high relief is usually the most difficult to create because it demands deep carving, complex structure, and careful engineering to keep the projecting forms stable.

Quick Scoop: The Three Types

1. Low (Bas) Relief

Low relief is when the figures project only slightly from the background, so the surface still feels mostly flat. Artists rely a lot on subtle contours and light and shadow rather than deep carving to suggest depth.

2. High Relief

High relief has figures that project strongly from the background, often more than half of their natural depth and sometimes almost fully detached. This makes the sculpture feel close to “in the round,” with dramatic shadows and a very three‑dimensional look.

3. Sunken Relief

In sunken relief, the design is carved into the surface so that the background remains the highest plane and the figures are recessed below it. This method was famously used in ancient Egyptian art and works well on hard stone because the carved lines are protected from wear.

Which Is Hardest to Create, and Why?

From a practical art‑making point of view, high relief is usually the most difficult:

  • It requires the deepest removal of material, so mistakes are harder to correct and the risk of breaking pieces is higher.
  • The sculptor must think structurally, making sure heavily projecting parts (like arms, horses, drapery) do not crack or fall off over time.
  • Because it approaches full 3D, the artist has to manage anatomy, perspective, and composition from several viewing angles, not just the front.

Low relief and sunken relief are still challenging, but they stay closer to the plane of the surface, so there is less extreme undercutting and less structural stress on the material.

TL;DR:

  • Three main types: low (bas) relief, high relief, sunken relief.
  • High relief is generally the hardest because it needs the most carving, the most depth, and the most structural planning to keep the sculpture stable.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.