Calligraphy
- Art Helps Hearts
- Oct 23, 2022
- 2 min read
Though the definition of the discipline has changed and become blurred over time, calligraphy is known as the “art of beautiful handwriting”, which is most likely what most would think of when they hear the word. In general, calligraphy involves understanding the proper form and proportions of letters as well as artistically positioning and inscribing words. Some critical elements of calligraphy include the following:
Integrity: the correctness of the proportions and form of a symbol
Harmony: an aesthetically pleasing relationship between various parts of a calligraphy composition
Rhythm: a pattern of repetition and variation of marks and spaces
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It is believed that calligraphy first originated in China, in the form of characters carved on animal bones and tortoise shells, which later developed into ink brushes on paper. Chinese calligraphy had an impact on the same practice in other regions, including Japan, Korea, and more. Western calligraphy, on the other hand, involved writing on long paper scrolls using reeds or quills dipped in ink. It is recognized for its use of the traditional Latin alphabet, and it was used by Christian churches to copy Biblical texts. Quills were eventually replaced with steel nibs due to their improved durability and convenience, and there are different types of nibs for different styles of calligraphy.
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Modern calligraphy has a vast range of different styles, and it does not always follow traditional rules of the discipline. Hand lettering is a practice derived from calligraphy, which involves drawing letters by creating an outline and filling it in; this is different from calligraphy since in calligraphy, letters are written with only one stroke. Although cursive writing is not as commonly taught as it used to be, calligraphy is still a very popular artform to this day.
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