BY Admin
Dated back to the early days, Block Printing was introduced in China and then the art has been developed in Rajasthan and other regions of India. It seems that printing art was in trend those days and still it prospers in the fashion industry. A block maker or carpenter who specializes in block making is known as Bhatt Ghar in Rajasthan. Here Bhatt implies block and ghar signifies the carver. The block printing in Sanganer uses blocks made in Purani Basti in Jaipur. These blocks need some special technical input which is usually sent to Farukhabaad, Sitapur, Meerut, or Pilakuan in UP or Pethapur in Gujarat.
Motifs of Sanganer -
Expertise in flower-petal designs, curves, and delicacies are the prime specialties of Sanganeri prints. There are many different types of floral patterns displayed in the border in a stylized manner. Some of the flowers used in the prints are roses, lotus buds, lotuses, sunflowers, lilies, marigolds, etc. You will find different styles of flowers carved in wooden blocks which are then traced on the fabrics. Many flowers used in Sanganeri prints originated in Rajasthan and mainly portray flowers that are not likely to have been seen by the calico printers nor by the block engravers of Rajputana.
Motifs of Bagru -
The ancient progress of the motifs of Bagru is quite difficult to understand. These are mostly derived from the flora and fauna or natural things. A comparative study of the evolution and layout of motifs clearly reveals a change from old tradition and style. Initially, the prints were primarily floral and vegetative but today it also uses geometrical shapes, and more. The motifs of Block Printing Bagru may be classified into 5 different types -
Difference between Sanganeri and Bagru style of printing -
Typically the difference between Sanganeri and Bagru printing is that Sanganeri print is usually done on a white base while Bagru prints are done on an Indigo or a dyed background. Also, the use of local water has its exceptional effect on the style of printing. In Sanganer, the results of block printing are very rich dark in shades of color, while in Bagru, one finds a reddish tinge in the block printing textiles. In Sanganer block printing water was used in abundance due to which dyeing printing, as well as washing, could be done smoothly, while in Bagru where water is scarce, Dhabu printing and indigo work is practiced more often. Usually, the motifs printed as Bagru are large with bold lines as compared to Sanganer where somber colours and fine lines, intricate detailing, are practiced.
To learn more about each one of these, you can go to the Block Printing Jaipur Workshop where you will be taken for a half-day tour to both Sanganer and Bagru village near Jaipur. So, this can be a better option for you to get indulge in traditional block printing styles.