Final answer:
Michelangelo used the subtractive carving process to create the sculpture Awakening Slave, directly sculpting the detailed figure from a marble block.
Step-by-step explanation:
Michelangelo used a subtractive process to create Awakening Slave. The carving method involves using tools to cut away material from a larger mass to create a sculpture. Michelangelo, in particular, was known to work directly on marble, starting with a block and releasing the figure he envisioned within the stone. This technique, which is the oldest method used for three-dimensional works, allowed him to sculpt his extraordinary pieces with remarkable detail and realism. In Renaissance times, artists typically used a combination of mallets and chisels to rough out the model, later employing finer tools to carve detailed features.