Block Printing

Textiles decorated with hand-block printing have been synonymous with India for many centuries. The earliest evidence of this vibrant and rich tradition dates back to the ninth century BCE. (Printed cloth fragments originating in Gujarat were unearthed at a burial site in Fustat, Egypt.) The art of printing fabrics on the subcontinent, however, goes all the way back to the Indus Valley Civilization. Over the course of history, trade in these magnificent stamped fabrics made the Indian subcontinent a vital commercial hub for merchants and traders from around the world.

Indian craftsmen have perfected to the highest degree the art of block printing on a myriad of surfaces using wooden and metal blocks. The rhythmic, almost mechanical movements they make while printing the textiles is a result of deep knowledge and many years of training. The traditional practice of creating block-printed fabrics primarily uses carved wooden or metal blocks that are dipped in natural colour and then firmly pressed on cloth. The more intricate and colourful the pattern is, the more rounds of printing are required using different kinds of blocks.

Photos by Shovan Gandhi