Page 178 - Art and Crafts of Bangladesh

PRINTMAKING 175

The printmaking studio of Kala Bhavana of Santiniketan
grew into a remarkable center of printmaking. It was here
that Ramendranath Chakravorty received his education. He
learnt lithography from Surendranath Kar and woodcut from
the French teacher André Karpellés. The international
connection of Santiniketan also played a great part in the
growth of printmaking. But if truth be told, the foundation of
printmaking at Santiniketan was built by three artists,
Nandalal, Ramkinkar, Binode Behari. They developed a new
printmaking movement by engaging in various kinds of
experiments. These three great artists worked untiringly in
the media of woodcut, linocut, etching, dry point, etc.
The famine of 1943 brought an extensive change to the
thoughts and consciousness of the artists. This period saw the
advent of many artists, among them were Zainul Abedin, Chittaprasad Bhattacharya fig. 3.6 Somnath Hore,
and Somnath Hore. The Famine Series by Zainul is an excellent reflection of social Krishakder Sabha
consciousness. Although he did not do much work in the medium of prints, a linocut (Peasants’ meeting),
executed by him on the famine theme has been found. Chittaprasad and Somnath Hore woodcut, 1951
(fig.3.6) were directly connected with the movements for social progress. They
became dedicated printmakers whether it was with the intent of distributing one
picture among many people or due to the strength of the medium itself.
Printing Outside Kolkata Before the Partition
Kolkata was the center of everything in undivided Bengal and as the capital of British
India it was transformed into a large city. Starting from renowned litterateurs, artists,
social reformers, all the prominent persons of all professions lived in Kolkata. It was
in Kolkata that presses were established, and the trade of the printing industry of Bat-
tala grew. As the center of the English rule in India it was in Kolkata that all their
activities related to printing developed. However, it was not that there was no activity
at all outside Kolkata. Dhaka was considered to be the largest town after Kolkata.
The history of Dhaka, the most important town of East Bengal, is very old. In 1610
AD Dhaka was given recognition as the capital of the province of Bengal. That lead
to the building of many beautiful structures in Dhaka and it flourished extensively. In
the writings of Charles D’Oyly it is mentioned that among the beautiful places of India
Dhaka was the most beautiful. In the middle ages the muslin and jamdani of Dhaka
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were renowned throughout the world. Dhaka also enjoyed fame for crafts and
woodwork. But there cannot be found any noteworthy examples of printing activities
in Dhaka parallel to China where even today prints for the New Year in the folk style
are in circulation. However, the culture of printing cloth with wooden blocks is very
old in both the Bengals. If we take the money mint to be a most ancient kind of
printing press, then it appears that in this country the printing press of this type was
established way back in the middle ages. At first the mint was established in
Sonargaon, later in Dhaka.