craft Game of Wood and color - Block printing

Block printing is the process of printing patterns by means of engraved wooden blocks.

It is the earliest, simplest and slowest of all methods of textile printing. Block printing by hand is a slow process. It is, however, capable of yielding highly artistic results, some of which are unobtainable by any other method.

HISTORY OF BLOCK PRINTING 

The traditional art of Block Printing is being practiced in Rajasthan, India for more than 500 years. Block Printing was started in the 12th century and the rich art form of printing on fabrics was being enjoyed by the Kings and Queens which made Block Printing art recognizable as royal patronage from that time. Block printing on fabrics was introduced by the old Chippa Community located in the Bagru district of Rajasthan.

The block printing art on fabric has been passed down to generations introducing various printing forms like Bagru printing, Sanganeri printing, Kalamkari block printing, Ajrakh printing, and Dabu printing.  Sanganer and Bagru in Rajasthan are the major hubs of Block printing in India while block printing in Jaipur has a huge unorganized textile market including Block Print Quilts, Kurtis, Shirts, Bedsheets, Scarfs, etc.

BLOCK PRINTING PROCESS

Block printing is a simple and manual process, yet time-consuming. The wooden blocks are carved according to the design required and dipped into the natural or vegetable dyes and colors and then pressed on the cloth for the printing on fabric. While the block printing process needs the practice to master but the simple procedure is as follows:

BLOCK CRAVING:

Firstly, a design is drawn on the paper which is going to be carved on the wooden block. These designs can be inspired by Sanganeri prints, Mughal prints, motifs, etc. After the design drawing, the design is traced and carved on the wooden blocks by hand. The block craving is done separately for individual color.

E.g. If two colors i.e. ‘yellow’ and ‘red’ are being used in the design, then woodblock carving is done on two individual blocks for different colors. The woodblock carving is done carefully and requires years of experience and apprenticeship to gain mastery, leaving behind the required design carved beautifully.

Hand Block craving process

PRE-WASHING AND FABRIC DYEING:

The local artisans’ pre-washes and dyes the fabric. We at Lushfab Jaipur also practice pre-washing of the cloth or fabric before the block printing process which makes the block printing art more eye-catching and beautiful. Pre-washing the fabric also ensures the woodblock printing gives a natural and clean look to the block printing designs which will be carved on the fabric. 

PREPARATION OF NATURAL AND VEGETABLE DYES – COLOR MIXING:

Once the block is carved the master prepares the dyes and colors for printing on fabric by mixing three to four colors together. The colors prepared are then kept inside a small wooden tray and the blocks need to be dipped in the color each time before printing on the fabric.

THE PRINTING PROCESS:

The fabric is dyed and is spread over the printing table, tucked in by all pins properly to prevent any misprinting. The carved wooden blocks of the designs are dipped into the dyes or colors and stamped on the fabric with a force of hand. The process takes time and energy as each color block is stamped individually on the fabric which brings out the best of woodblock printing or block printing art.

Printing on the fabric is done carefully by keeping the designs in alignment and following the same alignment throughout the process for the clean and artistic look. This block printing process creates artistic traditional designs with hard-work and dedication of the artisans and this printed fabric can be used to create block print products.

Origin of Block Printing

When we talk about the history of block printing, it is said to have originated in China and subsequently, it became extremely popular across the world; widely being practised in East Asia.

Interestingly, the earliest record of block printing isn’t on cloth, but on a book known as Diamond Sutra. 

The book is kept for display at the British Museum in London. Block printing made major inroads in India during the Mughal period and over the years, the Indian block print fabric has become an endearing textile choice for people across the globe. Block printing spread allover India few famous states are Rajashtan,  Gujarat and more. 

Indian woodblock printing’s appeal to niche markets

While India’s elite always favored hand printed textiles, Indian block printing seemed like a thing of the past to many. That all changed in the flower-power days. The 1960s and 1970s marked a period of revival. The bohemian aesthetic and a fascination with eastern spirituality renewed interest in Indian block prints.

Indian wood block prints today span the spectrum of traditional pattern to modern style. In essence, the prints simultaneously reflect past and present. Woodblock printing, a traditional craft, exists in a parallel universe to the modern world. It’s an art that stubbornly resists industrialization. To this day, artisans practice block printing without machines or computers.  

Today’s Indian block printing studios cater to niche markets and textile mavens worldwide. Thanks to the slow cloth movement and an interest in handcrafted goods, Indian wood block printing is still alive–but barely.