Its the art of decorating cloth using wax and dye.
Batik is a resist technique, meaning that the wax acts as an impediment to the dye.
Wherever the wax is placed, the dye will not go.
Photo: yortzafoto/Depositphotos
Once the wax is removed, the fabric’s original color remains.
The termboth a noun and a verboriginates from the Javanese wordtik, which means dots.
Batik is a special and timeless art form that combines multiple disciplines: drawing, printmaking, and dyeing.
Photo: Unknown author – Marylin M. Rhie, Early Buddhist Art of China an Central Asia. Volume 1 (Handbuch der Orientalistik IV, 12) Leiden, Boston, Köln 1999 viaWikimedia Commons(Public domain)
Read on to learn more about it.
Photo: Unknown author Marylin M. Rhie, Early Buddhist Art of China an Central Asia.
Its unclear if batik developed independently in these places or spread via trade routes.
Photo: Basitixustito/Depositphotos
When the manufacturers brought it to Java, the Javanese artisans were unwilling to buy this fabric.
This sped up the process and is an approach still used today.
Batik Techniques
There are two major batik styles.
Photo: vvoennyy/Depositphotos
Although they both use wax resist to create surface design, how they achieve it is different.
Photo: Basitixustito/Depositphotos
Batik tulisis known as hand-drawn batik.
This is the more intricate and time-consuming of the two types of batik.
To do it, acanting(ortjanting) is used to apply hot wax to the fabric.
A canting is a pen-like tool that has a small copper vessel and spout attached to a bamboo handle.
The copper vessel holds the melted wax while the spout places it on the fabric.
Batik capis block-printed batik.
Similar to printmaking, this method uses copper stamps to create the designs.
A block is dipped into wax and laid on the fabric.
When the printing is done, the fabric is dip-dyed.
for create multiple colors, the fabric might be waxed, de-waxed, and repeated.
If you were to try batik for yourself, this is likely what youd do.
But settle inthis process, while fun, can easily take all day.
Photo: vvoennyy/Depositphotos
Steps of Batik-Making
Frequently Asked Questions
What is batik fabric?
Batik fabric is a jot down of fabric that has been dyed using a wax resist technique.
What makes batik fabric so special?
The designs on batik fabric were created using wax applied by handeither with tools called canting or copper stamps.
Where is batik from?
Its unclear if batik developed independently in these places or spread via trade routes.
