Calligraphy

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Page from a school primer in very legible script ( German Kurrentschrift , 1903)

Calligraphy refers to writing by hand , the aim of which is to make the text easy to read for the general public.

In some alphabets, particularly the Latin alphabets , in hand-written signature between cursive , which consists predominantly of related letters, and written in block letters distinguished. Especially with cursive handwriting, there is a great risk of illegibility and therefore fine writing is particularly important.

history

Example of English calligraphy from the 18th century by Bickham with artistic initials

Before the invention of the printing press , every font was handwritten (or scratched, carved or chiseled). Since the beginning of typography , calligraphy has only affected those documents that are still written by hand, as well as calligraphic templates for printed matter.

In Europe in the Middle Ages and modern times, calligraphy was previously practiced by master scribes (then called milliners) in calligraphy schools. Are known in German-speaking z. B. Johann Neudörffer the Elder (1497–1563), Jonathan Sauter (1549–1612), Arnold Möller (1581–1655) or in Bohemia Jan Táborský z Klokotské Hory (1500–1572). In the early modern period, writing masters were also teachers who ran schools on behalf of the public or privately where calligraphy was taught. Sometimes they also published master scribes with instructions on how to write beautifully.

Today, the starting point for handwriting is usually a school font. This can be a written basis (original font) that is specified by a master school or, as in German-speaking countries, by a country (e.g. a federal state in Germany or uniformly as in all of Austria). The oldest school script in all of Austria is z. B. back to the year 1775 and was arranged by JI Felbiger under Maria Theresa . Legible writing is taught in the school subject calligraphy . In order to practice calligraphy, tasks (calligraphy exercises), mostly for younger students, are or have been given in separate calligraphy books.

In all languages ​​that use the Latin alphabet, a form of Latin script is used today . The previously common German Kurrent script is no longer in use.

With the invention of the typewriter , computer printing and the paperless transmission of text ( Internet ), the circle of handwritten documents has become smaller.

contrast

The opposite of beautiful writing is illegible, bad writing, also known as clinking , pejorative : tinkling , blotching , scribbling , sudeln , smear ( colloquial ), scratch ( Switzerland ), fuzeln ( Austria ). The illegible hand that writes is also referred to as the “pig claw”.

The illegible writing of prescriptions by doctors is known in many countries around the world and is sometimes used. a. also blamed for deaths . In some cases, the illegibility is generally attributed to certain professional groups (e.g. civil servants ) or academics in general .

Calligraphy and calligraphy

Calligraphy and calligraphy are sometimes used as synonyms . In fact, the transition between calligraphy and calligraphy is fluid. Partly was or is z. B. a text itself is preceded by a calligraphically particularly beautiful initial letter ( initial ). Calligraphy differs from the art of calligraphy mainly in that calligraphy is about the legible ("beautiful") representation of the text, while calligraphy turns everyday writing into an art of calligraphy . In calligraphy, writing is therefore an expression of art. In contrast to calligraphy, calligraphy is therefore not used in everyday life, but on special occasions or in or for special works (e.g. inscriptions on arches, book illustrations, etc.). Also in calligraphy legibility is not the most important thing. B. the achievement of perfect aesthetic balance and the visualization of emotions. The calligraphers sometimes classify the activity as meditative .

The terms "calligraphy" and "calligraphy" are used in connection with

  • Calligraphy,
  • But also fine writing
  • represent something more beautiful than it is (similar to the terms "fair talk", "fair talk")

used.

See also

literature

  • Alois Brandstetter: Nice writing . Residenz-Verlag, Vienna / Salzburg 1997, ISBN 978-3-7017-1003-4 .
  • Karl Heinz Nies: Rhythmic writing: Course to acquire a common handwriting for school and self-teaching . 12th edition. Winkler, Darmstadt 1971.
  • Calligraphy, font maintenance: basic vocabulary 2 . Lipura publishing company, Rangendingen 1984.

Web links

Commons : Calligraphy  - collection of images, videos, and audio files
Portal: Font  - Overview of Wikipedia content on the topic of font

Individual evidence

  1. Instructions for calligraphy (...) for use in German schools in the kk states. Vienna 1775.
  2. Sauklaue , Duden online.
  3. Heike Le Ker: Sloppy US doctors - 7,000 deaths annually due to illegible prescriptions. Spiegel Online, January 17, 2007.
  4. Thomas Hoeren: Manuscripts to scare you - boy, how do you write again! Spiegel online, January 10, 2011.
  5. ^ Dictionary of the German Language , Volume 4, p. 255.