M+A Inspiration: Block Print
These days, nearly everything we buy is mass produced and machine-made. It’s difficult to imagine the days when garments were sewn by hand and cloth was block printed. But in some small workshops and villages in Jaipur, India and elsewhere, there is a commitment to keeping the centuries old tradition of block printing alive. Block printing is known to have been used in India since at least the 12th century, although this method is thought to be around 2,000 years old. First the artwork/design is drawn onto a translucent butter paper which acts like a guide for the block maker to carve from. The papers then transferred to a perfectly smooth block of wood. The block can be sourced from many types of trees but...