Woodblock printing is a technique of printing text, images or patterns
on paper or fabric. It is one of the oldest techniques known and practised to
date. It was originated in China. Later the Japanese adopted the technique and
within a short period, it got spread and flourished into a fine way of artistic
expression.
The technique of woodblock printing:
Woodblock
is prepared as a relief matrix. It means that the areas to show white are cut
away with a chisel or knife, leaving the characters or image to show in black
at the original surface level. The block is inked properly and then pressed
hard against the fabric or paper to achieve the impression of that engraved
pattern. These wood blocks are generally made up of sycamore, plane and pear
wood. These may vary in size but ya, all of these are 2-3 inch thick. The art
of carving on the wood is technically known as xylography.
At
first, woodblock
print was mainly used for printing calendars, auspicious charms and
books on agriculture and medicine. Later with advancement and invention,
different motives started getting engraved on the wood. These motifs when
stamped on fabric resulted in beautiful patterns. For multiple colours, a
separate block is used every time. The woodblock printing or hand block
printing is now used in both fashion and interior industry.
Everything
now is mass printed and produced in modern and atomized ways still, the
importance of this century-old and intensive tradition is alive? There are many
villages in India where the craftsmen are practising and passing down this
skill through generations. The prints from woodblock have been cherished for a
long time; it has been drawing consumers from across the globe.
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