Block printing
Block printing is the hand-printing of textiles with carved wooden blocks, each block printing one colour or part of the design.
In block printing, a design is carved into a wooden block, the block is inked with dye or mordant, and it is pressed onto the cloth, repeat after repeat. Multi-coloured designs need a block for each colour, registered by eye or with small pins at the corners.
Where is it practised?
Indian block printing, in Rajasthan and Gujarat among other centres, is the best-known living tradition, including ajrakh with its deep indigo and red. European printers used blocks before engraved copper plates and rollers took over, as in toile de Jouy.
Sources
- Decorating glossary: block print. Schumacher
- Glossary: ajrakh. Ashmolean Museum, Yousef Jameel Centre
- Block printing (Q13424495). Wikidata
See also
Last updated · Markdown