In India, block printing stands out as a craft that combines patience, skill, and beauty. In Jaipur, the “Pink City” of Rajasthan, this centuries-old tradition is still thriving. In the workshops of Sanganer and Bagru, two villages on the city’s edge, artisans carve designs into wooden blocks, dip them in natural dyes, and press them by hand onto cotton and silk, keeping the art alive today.
Islamic & Indian Art
The Heritage of Jaipur Block Printing
9 July 2025
Kristina Sanne
Origins and Evolution
The history of block printing in Rajasthan can be traced to at least the 16th century, when artisans perfected the use of hand-carved teakwood blocks and natural vegetable dyes. The Mughal courts encouraged this flourishing, with intricately patterned textiles adorning palaces and being traded across Persia, Egypt, and Europe. Jaipur, with its strategic position and strong artisanal guilds, became a vital centre.
Two distinct traditions took root:
- Sanganeri printing, renowned for its delicate floral motifs and fine lines, often in soft colours like pastel blues, reds, and yellows.
- Bagru printing, recognised for bold geometric patterns, earthy tones, and the use of indigo and alizarin dyes, creating striking contrasts.
The Craft Process
The process of block printing is slow, exacting, and profoundly tactile. It begins with the carving of wooden blocks, some of which can take weeks to complete. Artisans soak the cloth to prepare it for dye absorption, apply mordants (fixatives), and then stamp each motif by hand. A single sari may require hundreds of impressions, each one aligned with meticulous care.
Natural dyes, historically made from pomegranate rind, turmeric, madder root, and indigo, imbue the textiles with a palette both subtle and enduring. The faint irregularities in the impressions, the human touch, are not flaws but signs of authenticity, lending the fabric its warmth and vitality.
Tradition Under Pressure
Jaipur block printing has long transcended Rajasthan’s borders. By the 18th century, these textiles were traded by the East India Company to Europe, where they were prized for their colourfastness and intricate designs. Today, they feature in international fashion houses, museums, and luxury home décor.
Yet the craft faces challenges. Synthetic dyes and machine-printed imitations threaten to eclipse the painstaking traditional process. Many artisans struggle with declining incomes, even as global demand romanticises their craft. NGOs and heritage organisations have stepped in, promoting fair-trade models and craft tourism that help sustain livelihoods while protecting authenticity.
Why does Jaipur block printing continue to thrive in an age of speed and mass production? Its survival lies in the marriage of beauty and meaning. Each motif is not just decoration but a cultural code; peacocks for fertility, lotus flowers for purity, and vines for continuity of life. To wear or own such textiles is to carry a fragment of India’s artistic soul.
