Abstract
Abstract Traditionally, calligraphers and palaeographers seldom co-operate or collaborate. This is somewhat surprising considering both disciplines deal with the written texts in one form or another. One could argue that if we learn from each other’s respective fields, it would be mutually beneficial and enrich each other’s practice. This paper discusses the relationship between calligraphy, palaeography, and type design. It focuses on the question of how a calligrapher might approach and analyse a manuscript and how historical scripts have been an inspirational area for contemporary calligraphy and type design. This paper is written from a practitioner’s perspective in describing the processes of how calligraphy is analysed. From looking at manuscripts and documents, what elements can be obtained to develop ideas into design and artwork? What are the processes involved in using both traditional and digital methods? In contemporary calligraphy, what cross-cultural elements can we learn to enrich our traditions? This paper will use examples of my work and that of others as models for discussion.
Highlights
This paper discusses the relationship between calligraphy, palaeography, and type design
A type designer would find inspirations from historical scripts and develop digital fonts based on these scripts for the use of typed documents or other aspects of graphic communication
Calligraphers, on the other hand, are interested in the ‘aesthetics’, ‘tools’, ‘processes’ and ‘materials’, and type designers are concerned with the ‘functionality’ and ‘communication’ contexts when designing fonts
Summary
Palaeographers, calligraphers and type designers study or use letterforms as part of their practice, but their approaches and perspectives to their disciplines are quite different. Calligraphers would study how these historical scripts are written and to replicate these letterforms with an aesthetic sensibility for their artistic interpretations. A type designer would find inspirations from historical scripts and develop digital fonts based on these scripts for the use of typed documents or other aspects of graphic communication. Calligraphers, on the other hand, are interested in the ‘aesthetics’, ‘tools’, ‘processes’ and ‘materials’, and type designers are concerned with the ‘functionality’ and ‘communication’ contexts when designing fonts. In reality, all these approaches are inter-connected between each respective discipline. One could say all three disciplines are exploring the past in order to enlighten the present, and if we are to understand each discipline better, it will enrich our practice as well
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