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- Dictionarycalligraphy/kəˈlɪɡrəfi/
noun
- 1. decorative handwriting or handwritten lettering: "a label written in admirable calligraphy"
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Learn the origin, synonyms, and examples of calligraphy, the art of producing beautiful handwriting or lettering. Find out how calligraphy is used in different cultures and languages, and explore related words and articles.
Calligraphy is a visual art related to writing, involving the design and execution of lettering with various instruments. Learn about the origins, styles, and techniques of calligraphy in different cultures and languages, from East Asia to the West.
CALLIGRAPHY definition: 1. (the art of producing) beautiful writing, often created with a special pen or brush: 2. (the…. Learn more.
Aug 21, 2023 · Calligraphy involves the creation and arrangement of symbols by hand by using specific strokes to form each letter. This must be done in a way that is proportionate, harmonious, reflective of the heritage of calligraphy, and creates a feeling of a rhythmic pattern.
- Overview
- Early Semitic writing
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calligraphy, the art of beautiful handwriting. The term may derive from the Greek words for “beauty” (kallos) and “to write” (graphein). It implies a sure knowledge of the correct form of letters—i.e., the conventional signs by which language can be communicated—and the skill to make them with such ordering of the various parts and harmony of proportions that the experienced, knowledgeable eye will recognize such composition as a work of art. Calligraphic work, as art, need not be legible in the usual sense of the word.
In the Middle East and East Asia, calligraphy by long and exacting tradition is considered a major art, equal to sculpture or painting. In Western culture the plainer Greek- and Latin-derived alphabets and the spread of literacy have tended to make handwriting in principle an art that anyone can practice. Nonetheless, after the introduction of printing in Europe in the mid-15th century, a clear distinction arose between handwriting and more elaborate forms of scripts and lettering. In fact, new words meaning “calligraphy” entered most European languages about the end of the 16th century, and in English the word calligraphy did not appear until 1613. Writing books from the 16th century through the present day have continued to distinguish between ordinary handwriting and the more decorative calligraphy.
During the 2nd millennium bce, various Semitic peoples at the eastern end of the Mediterranean were experimenting with alphabetic writing. Between 1500 and 1000 bce, alphabetic signs found in scattered sites showed a correspondence of form and provided material for sound translations. Bodies of writing from this period are fragmented: a few signs scratched on sherds or cut in stone. Few of these are celebrated in terms of aesthetic value.
One interesting set of Semitic inscriptions was discovered in 1905 at an ancient mining site on the Sinai Peninsula. A sphinx from that discovery yields the taw, nun, taw, or t, n, t, meaning “gift.” It is evident that the nun, or n, sign is a rendering of a serpent. Most of the early Semitic alphabetic signs were similarly derived from word signs of more ancient vintage.
The several Semitic peoples in the Middle East area spoke languages that were closely related, and this enabled them to use the same set of alphabetic signs. After some experimentation the alphabet was reduced to 22 signs for consonants. There were no vowel signs. The tribes of Canaan (Hebrews, Phoenicians, and Aramaeans) were important in the development of alphabetic writing, and all seemed to be employing the alphabet by 1000 bce.
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The Phoenicians, living along a 20-mile (30-kilometre) strip on the Mediterranean, made the great sea their second home, giving the alphabet to Greeks in the mutual trading area and leaving inscriptions in many sites. One of the finest Phoenician inscriptions exists on a bronze cup from Cyprus called the Baal of Lebanon (in the Louvre, Paris) dating from about 800 bce. The so-called Moabite Stone (also in the Louvre), which dates from about 850 bce, has an inscription that is also a famous example of early Semitic writing.
Calligraphy is the art of beautiful handwriting, derived from Greek words for "beauty" and "to write". Learn about the history, styles, and techniques of calligraphy in different cultures and traditions, from ancient Semitic alphabets to modern scripts.
Aug 31, 2023 · In this article, we will introduce you to all you need to know about the art form of calligraphy, including its history, the different calligraphy styles, and a few key tips for beginners when learning the art form.
Calligraphy is the art of writing beautifully, especially with a brush or pen. Learn about its origin, history, examples, and related words from Dictionary.com.
