Page 198 - Art and Crafts of Bangladesh

GRAPHIC DESIGN 195

press came much later, in 1847, not in Dhaka, but in Rangpur. The press was
established in Dhaka in 1849. 5
For the benefit of discussion, graphic design, related to printing, can be divided into a
number of different branches. For example,
1. Newspaper, magazine and advertisement
2. Poster
3. Book cover design and illustration
4. Typography
5. Logo/monogram
6. Packaging
7. Painted banner, hoarding, neon sign etc.
8. Booklet, leaflet
9. Different types of calendar
10. Hanging mobile/bunting
11. Cartoon, caricature, comic strip, etc.
12. Stamp
13. Currency
Almost all the items listed above originated during British rule in this country.
Foreign and local artists contributed to the gradual development of graphic design in
this era (1757-1947). Among local artists there were artists both formally trained and
self taught.
After the partition of 1947, the Government Institute of Art (1948) was established
in Dhaka, which is now the Institute of Fine Art affiliated to the University of
Dhaka. A good number of artists trained in this Institute have made significant fig. 4.2 Bat-tala print
contributions to the graphic design of Bangladesh. It needs to
be mentioned that many self-taught artists who migrated
from Kolkata and other parts of India after the partition,
mostly non-Bengalis, deserve their share of credit. After the
Liberation War of 1971, various dimensions were added to
the history of graphic design in Bangladesh. Throughout the
years, innovation and development in technology made
graphic design attractive and multi dimensional. Let us now
discuss the aspects related to printing. However, before that,
a few words should be said about the steps to the evolution
and development of print technology.
The early phase of the print industry can be called the era of
wood and metal engraving. By metal engraving, here we mean
engraving on copper plate. Both these methods were used since
the inception of the printing industry in greater Bengal in the
latter half of the 18th century (1777/1778). No other method,
other than these two could be used for illustration of books or