“The art of Kalamkari printing in Iran: A shining jewel in the history of Iranian art.
Kalamkari printing, this delicate and original art, has deep roots in the history and culture of Iran. This traditional method of printing on fabric, especially silk, using wax and natural dyes, creates beautiful and lasting designs.
A brief history of Kalamkari printing in Iran:
Kalamkari printing in Iran, like many other traditional arts, has a long history. This art found its way to Iran through the Silk Road and trade relations with Asian countries and quickly established itself among Iranian arts.
The Safavid era: This period was the peak of the flourishing of the art of Kalamkari printing in Iran. The Safavid kings, especially Shah Abbas the Great, were art and handicraft enthusiasts and, therefore, provided special support to Kalamkari artists.
Qajar era: Kalamkari printing was also flourishing during this period, but due to the influence of Western culture and the prevalence of machine-printed fabrics, this art declined somewhat.
Contemporary era: Given the importance of preserving cultural heritage, in recent years, many efforts have been made to revive the art of Kalamkari printing in Iran. Young artists and those interested in traditional arts, inspired by old designs and combining them with modern designs, create beautiful and innovative works.
Stages of Kalamkari printing:
- Preparing the fabric: First, the desired fabric (usually silk) is washed and prepared.
- Designing the pattern: The desired pattern is drawn on the fabric using a pen or stencil.
- Waxing: The parts of the fabric that are not to be colored are covered with wax. Wax prevents the dye from penetrating the fabric.
- Dyeing: The fabric is immersed in natural dyes.
- Repeating the steps: These steps may be repeated several times to achieve the final design.
- Removing the wax: After the work is finished, the wax is removed from the fabric.
Important centers of Kalamkari production in Iran:
- Tabriz: Tabriz is one of the most important centers of Kalamkari production in Iran. Tabriz artists, using traditional and innovative designs, create very beautiful and valuable works.
- Asko: The city of Asko in East Azerbaijan is also one of the important centers of Kalamkari production.
Applications of Kalamkari printing:
- Production of decorative fabrics: Kalamkari fabrics are used to produce various decorative products such as tablecloths, pillowcases, shawls, scarves, and more.
- Clothing production: Kalamkari fabrics are used to sew traditional and modern clothes.
- Wall decoration: Kalamkari paintings are used as a beautiful decorative element in interior design.