ABSTRACT
European interest in Javanese batik belongs to one of the most interesting, although until know little-known, aspects of the centuries-long history of European and Asian artistic connections. The encounter of European artists with this undoubtedly most famous group of Javanese textiles began almost exactly a century ago. In 1892, a young generation of Dutch artists searching for a new source of inspiration undertook experiments with introducing the Javanese technique of resist dyeing to European interior decoration, fashion and craft. A decade later, the technique became well known in other European countries, gaining significant popularity among artists and craftsmen especially in Germany, France, Great Britain, Austria, Poland and Belgium. Textiles and other objects decorated with the technique of batik featured prominently during the two European art movements, commonly known as art nouveau and art deco (1890-1930).
