A Tale of Two Scripts: Comparing Historical and Contemporary Calligraphy

Hey there, friend!

At Lonely Tower‘s recent Scriptorium, I recently found myself chatting with a new scribe who asked, “What’s the difference between SCA period calligraphy and what’s practiced today?” Well, let’s unravel this fascinating topic together.

First off, what exactly is calligraphy? It’s not just about writing, it’s about painting a picture with letters and symbols. Imagine the beautiful flow of ink on paper, each stroke and flourish breathing life into words. The Greek words ‘kallos’ and ‘graphē’ mash together to form ‘calligraphy’, which simply means beautiful writing.

From the graceful characters of Japan to the elaborate scripts of the Persian Empire, calligraphy has been a worldwide art form. Over time, each culture has added its unique flavor, with styles that keep changing to match the needs of the people.

Later in Europe’s medieval era, you find monks hunched over desks, turning each page into a mesmerizing artwork filled with intricate letters and vibrant illustrations. Even if you didn’t understand a word, the beauty of the writing could still touch your heart.

Traditional vs. Modern Calligraphy
Now, to really appreciate calligraphy, you’ve got to understand the ‘old-fashioned’ styles and their rules. These rules make it possible to recognize different historical calligraphy styles, and they’re super important because modern calligraphy is all about breaking those rules!

Traditional calligraphy comes with different styles, or “hands” as they’re often called. Each hand has its own rules of nib ratio, spacing, and letter slant. Get to know them, and you’re on your way to creating masterpieces in each traditional style.

But modern calligraphy? That’s where things get interesting! It’s like a rebellious teenager that refuses to stick with the rules. It’s all about beautiful writing that marches to its own beat, blending different styles to create something fresh and individual.

Traditional calligraphy demands precision and perfection. But modern calligraphy embraces imperfections as a form of beauty.! If your letters look a little deflated or extend beyond their intended limits, that’s okay! It’s those quirks that make modern calligraphy unique.

And guess what? Even though traditional calligraphy requires some serious skill, modern calligraphy is more forgiving. So if you’re willing to invest some time, you can pick it up and create something truly your own.

The website The Serif details the differences in more detail:

• Traditional calligraphy is more sophisticated and elegant to look at. Modern calligraphy, on the other hand, is whimsical and fun.
• Strict rules need to be followed while writing traditional calligraphy styles. Modern styles of calligraphy, however, encourage people to intentionally break these preset rules and have fun with the script and letter styling.
• Traditional calligraphy usually has a more slanted script, while the slant in modern styles of the same is more upright.
• Traditional and basic letterforms are used while writing the traditional forms of calligraphy. Modern calligraphy allows the usage of modern letterforms that incorporate loops, exalted ascenders, and dipping descenders.
• Traditional calligraphy is ripe with a rich history as it is a style that has existed for many centuries and has stood strong against the test of time. Modern styles of calligraphy are more recent and have become hugely popular owing to social media and growing trends.
• Traditional calligraphy uses equal spacing, consistent angles, and lines. On the other hand, modern calligraphy uses letter proportions that best suit the style of the artist. These shapes, sizes, lines, and angles can change according to the artists’ tastes and preferences.
• The traditional style uses a more neutral color palette, while the modern style uses a brighter range of colors.
• Pointed pens are the most common tools used to create traditional calligraphy. Modern calligraphy can be created using digital mediums and brush pens.

So, whether you’re an admirer of the old or an explorer of the new, the world of calligraphy has a spot for you. Enjoy the dance of ink, and don’t forget to have fun with it!

Feel free to check if you want to dive deeper into modern calligraphy and its captivating art. Or look around my blog for more pre-1600s joy.

Happy writing! 🖋️