Canting (Batik Pen)

Label

The canting, or tjanting, is one tool used to create designs for batik cloth. The hand tool consists of a wooden handle (usually bamboo), a copper reservoir that holds the liquid wax, and a spout that controls the flow of the wax.

The canting requires a delicate touch and expert drawing skill, expertise, control, and care. Compared to the block printing technique, the canting allows artists to design more intricate motifs and patterns. The nature of the tool gives artisans artistic liberties and the ability to produce original, elaborate, and detailed designs.

From the 2023 exhibition A Space for Dialogue 115, Connecting Threads and Woven Stories, curated by Caitlyn King '24, Class of 1954 Intern

Exhibition History

A Space for Dialogue 115, Connecting Threads and Woven Stores, Caitlyn King '24, Class of 1954 Intern, Alvin P. Gutman Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, October 21 - December 16, 2023.

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