Printmaking is an artistic process based on the principle of transferring images from a matrix onto another surface, most often paper or fabric. Traditional printmaking techniques include woodcut, etching, engraving, and lithography, while modern artists have expanded available techniques to include screenprinting.
A matrix is essentially a template, and can be made of wood, metal, or glass. The design is created on the matrix by working its flat surface with either tools or chemicals. The matrix is then inked in order to transfer it onto the desired surface. To print from a matrix requires the application of controlled pressure, most often achieved by using a printing press, which creates an even impression of the design when it is printed onto the paper or fabric. However, modern printmaking techniques, such as screenprinting, do not require a press. The resulting print is often the mirror image of the original design on the matrix. One of the great benefits of printmaking is that multiple impressions of the same design can be printed from a single matrix.
The history of printmaking began in Han Dynasty China. The earliest known example, a woodblock print on silk, has been dated sometime during the Han Dynasty from 206 B.C. to 220 A.D. The first print on paper was made during the seventh century. The original form of printmaking used a small wooden board as the matrix.
In the Newar tradition, there is a trend to print different images during different religious occasions. For example, the image of snakes is printed on paper, are brought for sale for Naagpanchami, cow face for Jaijatra, Laxmi for Laxmipuja etc. Likewise, there are patterns on shawls, bedcovers, blanket material etc. are printed using colour and wooden blocks.
As said above, prints in paper for various cultural and religious occasions is done by the Chitrakars while print making in fabrics for daily uses are done by the Ranjitkars.
The history of print-making as a part of contemporary art in Nepal dates back to early 60’s. Urmila Upadhya Garg is the first Nepali printmaker who created engraved etchings. Artists trained from Indian institutions- Shankar Suwal, Batsa Gopal Vaidya, Birendra Pratap Singh, Parmesh Adhikari, Yuvak Tuladhar, Ragini Upadhya, Uma Shankar Shah, Dr. Seema Sharma Shah and later Ashmina Ranjit introduced techniques like colour viscosity, aquatint, lithography in the printmaking arts in Nepal.
The print-making scene in Nepal became more dynamic as more young artists like Sushma Shakya, Saurganga Darshandhari, Kabi Raj Lama and Samjhana Rajbhandari appeared on the scene. Umesh Shah, Sujita Shrestha, Rabita Kisi, Rajkaumari Shrestha and some others are noted as emerging print artists.
Rajbhandari is taken as one among the printmaking artists in Nepal. Her choice of subject in the canvas is nature and its impact on the human psyche. Through her art, she seems to be seeking her place in nature. What she paints on her canvas is not simply a landscape but an emotional response to what she observes around her.
She has participated in various group art shows held in Lithuania, South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Maldives, United Kingdom and India besides Nepal. Moreover, she has been participating in different printmaking and painting workshops since 2002 A.D.
Printmaking for her is inspired by her father’s philatelic collections. She had to assist for preparing philatelic exhibitions. So as she chose postal stamps as a subject for printmaking. She works finely on them on Nepali Lokta paper.
She’s had nine solo exhibitions and had participated in a few group shows as well. ‘Prints: A tribute to the past’ was an event showing her artistic discovery. She had created a number of postal stamps remade as print art.
She had a remarkable presence with prints in the art show organised by Sirjana College of Fine Arts in last May where the faculty members exhibited their works. One of the ‘catchy’ were Rajbhandari’s art works on postal stamps remake by printmaking techniques.
She has been honoured by Creative Women Organization Nepal and Nepal Ladies JCI for her contribution to art. She is also a recipient of the Arniko Youth Award.
