Indian Block Printing by West Elm
“Modern Living” specialists West Elm put together this terrific little film after meeting the world’s great hand-block printing artisans on a recent trip to northern India’s Rajasthan. They asked the craftsmen if they would produce a special collection of quilts for the store and we can see here as they create an array of striking designs, all printed using intricately carved teak blocks and richly coloured pigment dyes.
The filming is marvelous, beautiful close ups of the wooden blocks being carved and some abstract shots of the printing itself. I couldn’t believe how perfect each and every block setting was by hand, these guys and girls definitely have a real skill and it shows in the final works. In fact they make it look easy!