Bat-tala woodcuts: The Woodcut Prints of 19th Century Calcutta (Set of 50)

Calcutta, circa 1870's
All Woodcuts Mounted

Woodcut sizes: 10.1 x 15.2 cm and majority are 9.1 x 11.6 cm. Some prints are slightly faded.

NON-EXPORTABLE

The art of Bat-tala woodcut prints developed alongside the Bengali printing presses in the early 19th century. The word 'Bat-tala' refers to the northern part of Kolkata where this school of printmaking initially developed before spreading across the state. This art of woodcut prints was first solely associated with literature and was used to concisely portray the visual elements of a narrative in one frame. However, as their popularity grew, these woodcuts were collected and appreciated for their sophisticated use of lines and rhythmic decorative motifs. They were notable for the liveliness of their figures through dramatically composed scenes supported by exaggerated facial features.

In the late 19th century, Bat-tala prints were heavily influenced by artists trained in the British academic style. As a result, the previous style of classical Indian artistic traditions gave way to carefully composed scenes with spatial depth and chiaroscuro techniques used to enhance volume and movement. The engravers of these woodcut prints were often tradesmen trained in metalwork, who used jeweller's needles and employed their training to enhance engravings with contour lines and a cross-hatching technique that added a decorative tonality to their work.