Introduction to Block print
In this article, you will get the basic knowledge of hand block printing, its history, origin, designs, advantages and its printing process.
To feel the essence of traditional hand block printing technique and its importance to nature must read this beautiful article.
This art gives employment to millions of craft people and also helps in women’s empowerment.
In this article you will get the process of block printing step-by-step- woodblock carving, color mixing-preparing the dyes, printing process, finishing touches, Styles of block printing, and India’s role in hand block printing.
History of Block Print
Hand block printing is a very old traditional process of printing fabrics by hand with carved wooden blocks, this technique has been running since the times of kings and emperors.
This technique was first introduced by China around 4500 years ago but was greatly adopted by India.
In India, this technique was first adopted by the Chippa community of Jaipur, Rajasthan, who lives in the small village ‘Bagru’ near Jaipur is an area now famous for its dabu(mud resist) printing and vegetable dyes.
This community spread the hand block printing technique to their friends & family, society members, and other villagers.
Almost 500 years ago India adopted this technique and practiced it regularly in their homes and outskirts of their houses with their family members and communities.
In recent decades, this technique has been spread to other regions such as Sanganer, near Jaipur and now is actively practiced regularly.
What is Block Printing?
Block printing is the art of hand block printing on fabric. It refers to the printing technique of pressing and stamping onto fabric with carved wooden blocks that are filled with natural color dyes. The other two terms for block printing are also known as“Hand blocked” or “Hand block printing”.
It requires high knowledge and experience of printing fabric because block printing is a very challenging process and it requires a lot of patience and steadiness, as it is a time-consuming process as compared to the advanced printing technique.
Steps involved in block printing- making design on plain paper, carving of wooden blocks, mixing colors- preparing the dyes, printing process, and finishing touches.
Advantages of Block Printing
- Sustainable type of printing & eco-friendly.
- Source of income for millions of craftspeople.
- Women empowerment – it gives jobs to skilled women.
- It is a natural process because rich vegetable color dyes are used in this process.
- Suitable for smart casual clothing lovers.
- Every design has its unique identity as it is made by different print masters with their unique signature moves.
- No need for any expensive machinery for this process as compared to the advanced printing process.
Process of block printing
Wood Block Carving in hand block printing
Firstly the craft artisans make designs on paper and then put them on the plain sheesham or mango wood whatever is readily available easily, trace them down onto the plain flat block, and then carve that block with the hammer and an iron thin stick, make outlines of the design drawn on the block.
After carving, the artisans fill some cotton in the required gaps of carved blocks so that it gets easy to print on the plain or white cotton fabric. Block carving on its own is an artistic process that requires a lot of experience and patience.
Color Mixing-Preparing the Dyes
After carving the block, master printers prepare a square block with a net attached to it and fill rich vegetable color dyes in that wooden tray, so that they can dip their carved wooden block to get motifs filled with colors and cover all the parts of motifs, so it gets easy to print on fabric repeatedly
Printing Process-Block Printing on Fabric
After that, the print master presses and stamps that wooden carved block onto the fabric so that colored motifs get printed onto the fabric or grey, and this process is continuously repeated again and again until it reaches the end of the table.
It requires different types of blocks because each block has its own motifs and single color, so it requires different carved blocks to make a multi-colored design.
Finishing Touches
After printing some basic washing & drying methods are applied to the hand-printed fabric to prepare it for dispatching.
Also, double-check the quality of the printing so that no problems will come after dispatching.
Styles of block printing
Indo-Westerns Designs
Dabu Printing and Vegetable Dyes
These recipes are generated by the chippa community and preserved by their communities for a long period, from generation to generation. This technique requires rich vegetable color dyes depending on the soil fertility, water availability, climate changes, seasons, etc. it is a time-consuming process but the outcome of this printing is tremendous and natural.
Bagru print
Sanganeri print
Ajarak print
India’s Role in Hand Block Printing
India plays a vital role in the hand block printing technique, as India adopted this technique very quickly and gained expertise in block printing, through this technique India captured the attention of the world and became popular in hand block printing, this technique was first adopted by the chippa community of Jaipur, Rajasthan who lives in the small village ‘bagru’ near Jaipur, from their this technique got spread to all over the world.
Conclusion
After reading this article we get some general knowledge of hand block printing and its process , the outcomes of this technique, plus its history and origin of hand block printing. For advanced knowledge of block printing and its printing types, join us in this journey of block printing.
