Explore the ancient brock printing art form that is thought to have been around since the 12th century in India.
Some historians claim that block printing in India has been around for over 2000 years while others claim that in the early days Indian artisans perhaps borrowed techniques from Chinese artists and then turned it into a culturally distinct art form. All through India, different types of dyes and patterns have become synonymous with different regions of the country. At some point, hand printing was replaced by screen printing for a faster and more efficient output production. But in the recent years, hand block printing in India has seen somewhat of a resurgence as more and more artist communities are going back to doing this by hand giving new meaning to the phrase – Made By Hand.
The process of hand block printing in India
Block printing is quite a laborious process. With each new pattern, new blocks need to be designed and carved. A design, either traditional or modern, is first drawn onto paper and then transferred on to a block of wood. There are certain types of wood that are typically used for these block – teak or mango wood being the most popular. A separate block must be made for each color incorporated into the design.
Block printing colors are also an important part of the overall block printing process. Most colors are either made from natural dyes. After the fabric has been cut to size, the colors have been prepared, and the blocks are all ready, the artisans can start to print.
Block printing museum in Jaipur India
In the city of Jaipur which was considered the royal seat of India, there is a beautiful museum dedicated to the art of block printing. The Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing is located in a magnificently restored haveli (mansion). The museum is dedicated to the preservation and creation of hand-printed textiles. The museum houses many permanent collections as well as changing exhibitions which cover a broad range of designs and materials from artists and artisans. The collection consists of a varied selection of block-printed textiles along with images, block tools and other objects that help convey the story of ancient and modern-day block printing art.
The visitors have an opportunity to interact with the artisans and also try their hand at block printing and block carving. The museum conducts workshops for schools and colleges and provides either a general tour or a special exhibition tour.
Block printing regions in India
In India, hand block printing has gained a lot of resurgence as many government run as well as private co-operatives use Indian block printing fabrics in their designs. Even western boutiques and fashion houses have invested in providing work for the artisan families. This has given generations of artists a way to keep the block printing tradition alive by giving them a steady income stream.
The most important centres for block printing in India are Sanganer, Jaipur, Bagru and Barmer in Rajasthan, Bagh in Madhya Pradesh, Anjar, Deesa, Ahemdabad, Jetpur, Rajkot, Porbandar and Bhavnagar in Gujarat, and Pilakuan and Farukhabad in Uttar Pradesh. These four states of India continue to dominate the art of block printing even today.
We have a blogpost and a video of how Dastakar Ranthambore is making a change in the lives of its women co-operative members and the community, you can check it out here.
Block printing art or any art for that matter, gives us such a beautiful way to connect with the past and learn about the history of a community and a people. Preserving some of the dying forms of art is not only essential but also a responsibility. And as consumers, we too can support initiatives like Dastakar and others who are working at a grassroots level, by directing our purchases directly to the artists and artisans working in these fields.
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Beautiful work and it looks difficult to line up the various colors in each figure. Thanks for sharing about these artisans.