Description
Batik (from: many dots in Javanese) is a method of decorating a woven fabric with dye. Batiked fabrics are usually made into clothing, but can also be used in interior design, for book covers, or wall hangings. Batik is a very ancient art form. Fabrics dating back over 2,000 years have been found in the Middle East, India, and Central Asia. To batik, the fabric is first partially painted with wax. The treated areas cannot absorb dye. After dyeing, the wax is removed. Advanced batik consists of multiple dye runs, with the wax being (partially) removed or reapplied between dye baths. Because small cracks appear in the wax, a kind of crackle effect often occurs. Typical images on Indo-European batik sarongs include bouquets, illustrations of European fairy tales, and illustrations from European wallpaper. Indo-European women were the first to produce batik on an industrial scale, thus promoting the spread of batik to other areas and the first to develop modern batik styles.
