Types of Calligraphy

Types of Calligraphy: Styles and Examples From Around the World

If you have been wondering about the types of calligraphy, then this article will answer some of your questions with information about Calligraphic Styles and Examples.

Calligraphy as an art has evolved over hundreds of years in various parts of the world. Though this word art form has accrued the local form and has been influenced by the local culture, history and way of life, it still represents elegant and beautiful designs that words can take up.

Let’s have a look at some of the cultures that have embraced this form of art and developed it further with their influence.

Types of Japanese Calligraphy

Kaisho

This style is also known as Shinsho, and is characterized by very few movements.

Gyousho

Gyousho is a Japanese calligraphy style that is somewhere in between Kaisho and Sousho in its stiffness. While Kaisho is a very stiff Calligraphy style Gyousho is much more liberal on that front.

Sousho

Sousho is by far the most popular among all Japanese calligraphy styles. So if you wish to understand various types of calligraphy then this is one form that demands some of your time. Its known for its swift movements and flowing style. Calligraphy styles and examples demonstrating Sousho are widely available and appreciated throughout the Calligraphic community.

Western Calligraphy Styles

This design was developed by Roman Calligraphers. The initial inspiration was to decorate the ancient roman monuments with these artistic words. Versals

Versals is a style in which every line is characterized by multiple strokes of the pen. This way each line has a varying thickness.

Textura

During the gothic cathedrals were built, an inspired script made appearance in the books of those days. This came to be known as Textura or Gothic script.

Antiqua

This style of calligraphy is inspired by the work of ancient roman authors. The work of ancient Romans was discovered and developed by Italian Renaissance Calligraphers and named as Antiqua. This happens to be the most exquisite and elegant of styles ever developed by renaissance Calligraphers. One drawback of this style was that it was painfully slow and difficult to write.

Italica

Of the types of Calligraphy mentioned under this section Italica is one of the simplest yet elegant styles.

This style of Calligraphic writing followed the development of Antiqua. The difficulty and time consumed in writing using the Antiqua script prompted the renaissance calligraphers to come up with a design that was no less elegant but at the same time was easy and faster to write.

This style was known as Corsiva in Italy but then when it spread to others countries it can be known as Italica.

Fractur

The Textura design got into the post renaissance era under the name of Fractur. The lower case letters of the fractur design were very similar to the Textura design you have come across earlier.

Roundhand

This is characterized by narrow lines and is also known as Copperplate. The name comes from the originators of the design who happen to be engravers. It was first used in France and then spread to Netherlands.

Hope you got some idea about the various types of Calligraphy styles and examples from this article. If you have any further information relevant to this page that you would like to share then please get in touch with me.


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