GD History - Section 1

word signs

represented an entire word or idea

sound signs

represented chunks of sounds that needed combinations to understand meaning

hieratic script

a cursive form of egyptian hieroglyphs; used especially by the priests; gave the ability to document and record informatiom more broadly

papyrus

material similar to thick paper that was used in ancient times as a writing surface. made from pith of papyrus plant; spread of writing

demotic script

egyptian hieroglyphic writing of cursive form used in handwritten texts, reduced commin symbols

phonetic symbols

each letterform represented parts of words or combinations of sounds

cuneiform

a script used to write several languages of the ancient near east, characteristic wedge shaped impressions

phoenician alphabet

based on principle that one sign equals one consonant and uses only 22 symbols in total

greek alphabet

geometric structure and order was applied to the uneven phonecian characters; symmetrical form and even visual texture

greek uncials

a rounded script form of greek capitols drawn on with nib pens demonstrating how writing tools and substrates influence

latin alphabet

monument capitals were drawn in thick and think strokes with organically unified straight and curved lines

square capitals

another name for monument capitals; evolved from the roman written hand created closlwy and carefully with a flat pen

majascule letterforms

large lettering, either capital or uncial in which all the letters are the same height

rustic capitals

calligraphic script developed by roman scribes similar to square capitals influenced by pen and ink writing

classical style

pictorial and historical method of book illustration so similar to late roman painting combined with rustic capitals

codex

earliest form of the book, it is a series of bound manuscript sheets

scripto continua

latin for “continous script” a style of writing without spaces or other marks between words or sentances

celtic design

geometric linear patterns that weave, twist and fill a space with thick visual textures and bright pure colors are used in close juxtapositions

diminuendo

decreasing the scale of graphic elements to create balance between large ornaments and smaller text elements on a single page

insular script

written with a slightly angled nib, this new script includes generally rounded letters with wide counters, curved uprights on the b, I, and T and distinctive triangular or wedge shaped serifs on the ascenders

textura

blackletter or old english; rounded strokes were almost eliminated, condensed spaces, resembled written text done by scribes

the douce apocalypse

represents a new breed of picture book that established the page design of the 15th century woodblock books that emerged after printing came to europe

movable typography

printing with independednt moveable and reusable bits of wood or metal each which has a raised letterform on one face

woodblock manuscripts

each page is printed with a single woodcut

incunabula

a printed book differentiated from the hand written 15th century manuscripts

initial capitals

elaborate capital letters at the begginning of each page or paragraph of text

johann gutenberg

brought together complex system and substyms to print a typographic book

composition - books

consited of two columns of type with generous margins in between with generous margins, traditional manuscripts

colophon

statement at end of book with printers emblem and info about the printing

nuremburg chronicles

1,809 woodcut illustrations, masterpiece of incunabula period

humanism

renaissance cultural move,emt which turned away from medieval scholasticism and revived interest in ancient greek and roman thought

roman capitals

related each letter to the square. Durer used 1:10 ratio of heavy stroke width to height

romain du roi

new typeface with increased contrast between strokes. even balanced letterforms

rocco period

includes all the fanciful french archiceture. 1720-1770

type family

collection of fonts of different weights and widths that are visually compatable anc can be mixed. Point sysem

engraving

drawing on copper with “graver”

William CASLON

English colonialism fonts, used widely. Friendly to the eye

old style

early roman types characterized by curved strokes, axis inclined to the left, little contrast

Baskerville

widde margins and liberal space between letters and lines

modern type

thin, long horizontal serifs and clear cut transitions between thick and thin. Stress is vertical. no slant. Bodoni

Didot

1784-1811. characterized by increased stroke contrast, condensed armature, hairline strokes, vertical stress and flat, unbraketed serifs

point system

graphic measurement that took the original Pied de Roi scale and divided each inch into 72 points.

Nicholas Jenson

Focused on elegant translation of the printed manuscripts with clear attention paid to open margins and line spacing. Created ideal individual letters would combine harmouniously

Renaissance Humanism

A philosophy of human dignity and work that defined man as capable of using reason and science

aldine press

published major works of great thinkers of the greek and roman worlds. Editorial authority and scholarship

bembo

lowercase ascenders taller than capitals to correct and optical color problem- tendancy for capitals to appear too large.

champ fleury

this book celebrates the art and science for the proper and true proportion of static letters “antique letters”