History of Graphic Design - Midterm

Pictograph

A symbol or drawing representing an object or concept, often used in early writing systems.

Rebus Writing

A writing technique using pictures to represent sounds or syllables instead of literal meanings.

Papyrus

A writing material made from the papyrus plant, used in ancient Egypt.

Vellum

A fine parchment made from calfskin, used for manuscripts.

Scriptorium

A room in medieval monasteries where manuscripts were copied and decorated.

Camera Obscura

An optical device that projects an external image onto a surface, aiding artists in drawing.

Carpet Page

A full decorative page in illuminated manuscripts, resembling textiles with intricate patterns.

Illuminated Manuscript

A handwritten book decorated with gold, silver, and colorful illustrations, mainly in the medieval period.

Textura

A Gothic script characterized by dense, vertical, and angular letterforms.

Chinese Calligraphy

The artistic practice of writing Chinese characters, emphasizing brush strokes and form.

Typography

The design and arrangement of type in printed material.

Woodblock Printing

A technique where images or text are carved into wood, inked, and pressed onto paper.

Relief Printing

A method where the raised surface of a block is inked and transferred onto paper.

Engraving

A printmaking technique where designs are cut into a metal plate and inked for printing.

Fat Face

A bold, heavy, and exaggerated serif typeface, popular in the 19th century.

Egyptian Type

A slab-serif typeface with thick, block-like serifs.

Uncials

A rounded script used in manuscripts from the 4th to 8th centuries.

Semi-Uncials

A script evolving from uncials, incorporating lowercase letterforms.

Sans-Serif Type

A typeface without serifs, emerging in the early 19th century.

Broadsides/Broadsheet

Large printed posters or newspapers used for public communication.

Industrial Revolution

A period of rapid industrialization (18th-19th century) that revolutionized printing, advertising, and mass communication.

Daguerreotype

An early photographic process creating images on silver-plated copper.

Calotype

An early photographic process using paper negatives, developed by William Henry Fox Talbot.

Lithography

A printing technique using oil and water on a flat surface to create images.

Ukiyo-e

A Japanese art movement characterized by woodblock prints depicting landscapes, kabuki actors, and scenes from history.