India is known for its printed and dyed cotton cloth since the 12th century. The art of Indian block print textiles has survived from ancient times to the present, inspite of being a labor-intensive, painstaking process. The beauty of the handmade products using block printing can never go out of style. Scraps of cloth found in the ruins of Mohenjo Daro, an ancient city of the Indus Valley Civilization, provide ample proof of the practice of block printing in India. The art of block printing in fabrics flourished in the 12th century under the patronage of the rajas and maharajas. The 17th century saw a revitalization of the art. And even now in the 21st century, block printing of fabric by hand is an art practiced by Indian artisans with great precision and hardwork.
Block printing is a process of dyeing and coloring a fabric using wooden blocks. India is one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of block printed fabric in the world. Block printing artisans use wooden or metal blocks to create beautiful designs on the fabric.
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| Block Printing |
Block Printing Centers in India
- Gujarat: Dhamadka village, Bhavnagar, Vasna, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Jetpur and Porbandar. Popular designs are geometric, black and red designs of birds, animals, and dancing girls, mango patterns. The artisans use natural colors such as red from the madder root, black from a rusty iron solution and blue from indigo. A famous print of Gujarat is Ajrakh.
- Rajasthan: From Gujarat, the art of block printing spread to Rajasthan. Here colorful prints of birds, animals, human figures, gods and goddesses are popular. The important centers are Jaipur, Bangru, Sanganer, Pali and Barmer.
- Punjab: The designs by Punjab craftsmen are usually floral and geometrical. Today, traditional designs have been displaced, and vegetable dyes have been replaced by chemical ones. The colors are light and pastel. The motifs are usually mangoes, peacocks and nets.
- West Bengal: In West Bengal, Serampur is the center of block printing. It is well-known for its bold and vibrant patterns.
- Andhra Pradesh: In Andhra Pradesh, the block printing method is applied in the creation of the exquisite Kalamkari Painting. It is a combination of hand painting and block printing.
- Block Printing in India is also practiced in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Block Printing Fabric
Block printing was originally done in cotton and silk fabrics. With time, the artisans also experimented hand printing on various types of fabrics ranging from tussar, kosa, munga to crepe, georgette, chiffon, dupion and all kind of silks. Range of hand block printing products are saree, salwar suits, dupatta, dress material, home furnishings and many more.
Block Printing Designs
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| Ajrakh Prints of Gujarat |
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| Bagru Block Print of Rajasthan |
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| nayatpi design |
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| sanganer block print |
