Battala Woodcut Prints

Battala woodcut prints (Bengali: বটতলার কাঠখোদাই, Romanized: Boṭṭolār Kāṭkhodāi) are the woodcut relief prints produced in the Battala region of Calcutta. These were a distinctive artform that flourished in 19th-century Bengal, particularly in the urban milieu of colonial Calcutta. These prints, produced in the Battala neighborhood, were known for their affordability, bold imagery, and accessibility, making them popular among the burgeoning middle class. Although woodblock printing on fabrics has been in India for centuries, the paper adaptation of woodblock printing appeared relatively late. Reproducing pictures using blocks began in India around the same time as the printing of books on paper, following the introduction of the printing press from Western sources. This marked the simultaneous development of the mass production of both books and images in India, aligning with the age of the printing press and the modern period. Battala woodcut printing had a remarkably short run due to its late entry into the Indian market and the advent of colour lithography. The Battala woodcuts were printed on a very cheap newsprint like paper to keep the cost of these prints low. Because of the short run, cheap paper and humid conditions of the region very few of these prints have survived.