FROM HITITES TO NOWADAYS
What is this famous lithograph? A traditional print from Northern Kastamonu is one of the rare protected cultural heritages in Turkey. This technique, which is endangered, is a gift from the Phrygians and Hittites. It is a very traditional printing technique, we can even say that it is the mother of most printing techniques we use today. It is so traditional; Kastamonu's famous lithography has remained the same for years, from the motifs to the materials used. This technique (as they call it "lithography"), which we see in different versions in Europe, has always distinguished itself from our versions.
There is a side of Kastamonu's lithographic tradition that brings different cultures together and conveys the historical structure of the city. By the way, it is an undeniable fact that it is quite remarkable in terms of aesthetics. Traditional as well as special symbols have been used in the works done so far, but of course, modern adaptations are not impossible.
We absolutely do not believe that any other printing technique could exist where the production process is this cool! The extreme resistance of the prints to all kinds of cleaning materials, such as bleach, is a spice. Let's talk a little bit about the printing process; First, the fabrics are washed. (Usually the local raw cloth of Kastamonu is used). After the mold is dipped into the paint, the pattern is printed on the fabric. The ink, which looks like black in the box, turns green when miraculously pressed, and turns black over time. The fabric is left to dry for about 2 days and then washed again. Above you can see the designs we made using this excellent technique!