Block printing in Rajasthan

From the archive record

A Rajasthani man prints a piece of cloth with a block. He places the block over the cloth and press the block against the cloth while a western photographer clicks photographs of him printing the cloth. Block Printing is an ancient craft form of Rajasthan that is being practiced since time immemorial. Natural colors are used in Block Printing. Rajasthan is well known for the art of block printing that is hugely practiced there even till date. The process of doing block printing flourished since the 12th century when the art received a royal patronage from the kings of the era. Block Printing is done on cotton fabrics. Rajasthan is an important center in India where block printing has gained a good prominence and the designs of the block printing that originated in Rajasthan are considered