History and Development of Batik

Batik is historically derived from our ancestors, known since XVII century, written and painted on palm leaves. At that motif of batik was dominated with the form of animals and plants. But in its development history of batik has developed, from painting motifs of animals and plants gradually turn to the abstract motif that resembles a cloud, temple reliefs, wayang beber and so forth. Furthermore, through the merger of the painting with the art style of clothes frieze art of batik as we know it today.
The type and style of traditional batik considered very much, but the pattern and its variations according to the philosophy and culture of each region are very diverse. The Indonesian nation of cultural treasures which have prompted the birth of such a rich variety of styles and types of batik tradisioanal with the characteristics of their own specialty.


Batik development in Indonesia

The history of batik in Indonesia associated with the development of the Majapahit kingdom and the kingdom afterwards. In some records, the development of batik is mostly done during the dark days of the Mataram kingdom, then in the kingdom of Solo and Yogyakarta.

Batik art is the art of drawing on the fabric for clothing that becomes one of the family culture Indonesian kings of old. Batik initially worked in the palace just limited to clothing and the result was the king and family and his followers. Because many of the followers of the king who lived outside the palace, the art of batik was brought by the palace and carried them out in place of each.

The process of making batik

In the development of batik art was gradually imitated by the people nearest and subsequently expanded into the work of women in the household to fill his spare time. Furthermore, batik clothing was only the royal family, then became a popular folk clothes, both women and men.

White fabric that is used when it is the result of homespun. Coloring materials being used consists of plants native to Indonesia who made their own from among others: noni tree, tall, soga, indigo, and materials made from soda ash soda, as well as salts made from mud.

So this batik in Indonesia has been known since the days of the Majapahit kingdom and continue to grow until the next kingdom. As for starting the spread of this batik art belongs to the people of Indonesia and Java in particular tribe is after the end of the century or the beginning of XVIII-XIX century. Produced batik batik is all until the early twentieth century and printed batik is known only then after the world wars or the unity around the year 1920. Now batik has become part of traditional Indonesian clothing.