The Art of Block Printing

The beautiful art of block printing employs wood or metal blocks to print designs and patterns of substance in his hand. What do block printing unique is that design should be created by the artist, before printing begins. It is carved on the block by hand. The colors used are usually vegetable dyes. Mineral and non-toxic chemical dyes are also used. The cut block is dipped in the color you want, and then it is used to design fabrics.

Origin Block Printing:

Excavations of dyed and printed fabrics, has traced the origin of block printing to the seventeenth century Gujarat. Today, block printing is practiced in many centers across India. Techniques of Block Printing.

 

There are a number of processes in Block Printing:

Direct Block Printing:

In this technique, only cotton or silk cloth bleached. Then the material is dyed, unless a light background is desired. Then the material is printed using carved blocks, only a sketch pads, saw them to fill.

I resist technique, areas to be protected from the dye are covered with a mixture of clay and resin. The dyed fabric is then washed. Dye spread to the protected areas through cracks, producing a rippled effect. Block printing is then used to create additional designs.

Discharge Printing:

In this technique, colored fabric. So, a chemical used to remove color from those parts which are patterns in a different color. These parts are then treated so they can be re-colored.

In Gujarat, this kind of hand-printing has been practiced and perpetuated by the Paithapur families. They make complicated blocks, and print their textiles through the mud resist-printing method. These images are called Sodagiri (dealers) are printed.

In Kutch, the popular patterns of black and red patterns of birds, animals and dancing girls. The Saris of Ahmadabad and Baroda have large mango patterns against a red or blue light.

The other known centers for block printing in Gujarat are Bhavnagar, Vasna, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Jetpur and Porbandar.

Block Printing in Rajasthan:

From Gujarat, spread the art of block printing in Rajasthan. Here, colorful images of birds, animals, human figures, gods and goddesses are popular. The main centers for this type of hand printing is Jaipur, Bangru, Song Ancestors, Pali and Barmer.

Ancestor song is famous for her Calico printed bed covers, quilts and Saris. In Calico Printing outline does not print, and then color filled Bold patterns and colors are popular. They are printed repeatedly in diagonal rows. Doo Rookhi Printing is also famous here. In this technique, print artists on both sides of the cloth.

Bagru is famous for its Syahi-Begär prints and Dabu prints. The former is designed in a combination of black and yellow ocher and cream. The latter transcripts in which parts are hidden from the dye by means of a resistor paste.

 

Barmer is known for his prints of red chili with blue-black outline, surrounded by flower-laden trees. The other famous prints are of horses, camels, peacocks and lions, called Sikar and Shekahawat prints.

Block Printing in Punjab:

Pad Printing from Punjab is not as famous as his Rajasthan counterpart, but still deserve dignity. It was art of a group of textile workers called Chhimba. The designs were usually floral and geometric. Today, the traditional patterns have been displaced, and vegetable dyes have been replaced by these chemicals. The colors are bright and pastel. The motives are usually mango, peacocks and networks.

Block storage of Andhra Pradesh:

In Andhra Pradesh, is the block printing method used in the creation of the exquisite Kalamkari Printing. The two major centers for Kalamkari art is Sri Kalahasti and Masulipatnam.

Block printing is also practiced in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.