Codex Gigas, illustration of the devil, Folio 290, recto (circa 13th century)
This is also known as The Devil's Bible.
hi class. Pick a post, theme, or idea from Thursday's class and develop it.
Remember: 150 words minimum; be original. Do your own search (Wikipedia); no idle talk going nowhere, no echo chamber. Avoid repeating what someone else posted unless you take it somewhere else.
Some general points to remember:
1- History is about epochs, and epochs are self-contained. Say you want to understand gothic style circa 1224. Why do you see a pointed arch in churches along with pointed rib vaults, flying buttresses, and stained glass windows? First thing, leave your 2024 glasses behind. What works in 2024 is a definite hindrance in 1224. Learn the language, eat the food, smell the air, make friends, learn the rituals & make no judgment. Becoming a 1224 folk yourself is the only way to learn. Surprise! As you make your way back, you learn 2024 doesn't feel the same anymore.
2- No epochal process is planned by human agency. We're inside the process ourselves and cannot cherrypick. Whatever happens, comes in an avalanche already above us. There's so much we carry from ancestors that we can't even begin to fathom.
3- In art and design, it's THE MARK that changes all by itself as it's repeated over and over.
4- It's time to think of typeface! All objects have at least two faces; you just have to find them.
Go ahead.
17 comments:
I will talk about the importance of a typeface. As Professor Triff states in his post, typefaces have a soul. The purpose of typography is to promote legibility and to convey the tone, the sentiment of a design piece. Typefaces evoke emotions and convey identity to the viewer. When you use a typeface, you are telling the audience what tone of voice the reader can read. The color, the shapes, the size…everything matters when you are using a specific typeface. Nowadays, a typeface is used to create a cohesive visual identity for a brand. It should be legible, versatile, and work well across a variety of mediums. The typeface defines the personality and the values of a brand and it must be adapted for their target audience. That is why you can say that typefaces have a soul; they convey emotions, and sentiments and help to communicate the message to the appropriate audience.
Merovingian, basically a Carolingian miniscule circa (7th-8th century), is a typeface that stood out to me due to its mix of script and freeform writing. Historical context behind the time period in which this script was invented was between 450 and 987. The Merovingian and Carolingian Frankish dynasties, is part of the early Middle Ages. They unified Gaul under their rule, and the Merovingian and later Carolingian monarchs established a political dynasty centered between the Loire and Rhine rivers, extending into large parts of Germany.
During a period of great conquest, it is interesting that Merovingian typeface was used in charters and non-religious writings. The letters have a wobbly look and are hard to distinguish. Despite its challenging readability, this script offers an intriguing glimpse into historical letter forms and ligature variations, reflecting the diversity within the category of Merovingian minuscule script. This typeface offers a unique perspective into the evolution of writing styles during the early Middle Ages.
the concept of the standardization of text and a typeface that was once utilized by a scribe or those who had been taught the trade of writing is intriguing to me due to the fact that as we operate today, standardized text has always existed. in trying to place myself in a time period i am not from (1450), I start to think of all the little artistic and trade evolutions that greatly impacted the way in which we function in present day society. getting to look at the development of text from scripts that were done only by scribes to text that could now be used and tweaked throughout time by the general masses puts into perspective just how innovative and integral the creation of text and the preservation of it is.
- zieli ennisacevedo
I really enjoyed learning about Ratdolt’s contribution to the future of graphic design involving typography and manuscripts. You can see where his inspiration is derived from by looking at the extremely precise and intricate Greek and Roman features, like the flowy motifs and the floral details. His own unique typeface conveys a story about Ratdolt and what messages he’s trying to portray with his writings. Typeface has such an important role in the world of design today as it helps to further emphasize the connection between the artist and the art. Based on our discussion last class, I shared my opinion on how I personally dislike Serif’s and enjoy more modern, simple san serif typefaces. It’s interesting to see how overtime we’ve come to enjoy the simplicity of design rather than the over decorative art that you see truly developing during the time of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
- John Kovacic
I was very interested in the Dance of Death by Hans Holbeins that was presented in class. Holbein's Dance of Death series may be interpreted as a part of contemporaneous rise of Protestantism and serves as a timeless morbid piece of art within history. The term dance being affiliated with death contains a fruitful juxtaposition that demonstrates the bitter sweet emotion that is attached to death; the melancholy of dying yet the gratitude of legacy. There are many different paintings within this book that illustrate different perspectives of what death can look like; some are older, some are younger, and the situations are all unique, eluding to the fact that everyone's close of life looks differently. I am a fan of the skeleton illustrations presented in the art work as the skeleton represents death while still holding a part of the human soul shown by the personification embodied by Holbeins; I believe he strategically did this to show that even after you are dead your soul still lives on.
I really enjoyed learning about The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The artwork is extremely detailed and intense, with a multitude of animals and figures. I think it is also important to think about the fact that the white/ lighter areas—contrary to artwork made with other types of mediums such as ink, paint, etc.—are actually the parts of the work that require the most amount of work and the use of deeper cuts in the woodblock. Because this is a print, details on figures such as curvature and volume is created through the use of solid lines, which in turn almost creates a sort of two-dimensionality to the work. Furthermore, while this print is meaningful in regard to its subject matter, there is also a great amount of importance that can be placed on its existence as a woodblock, and therefore, a replicable piece of art via print. This print’s success is largely due to its ability to be reproduced in newspapers, magazines, etc., and reach a wide audience of people.
I found the part about the mark of life to be very interesting. From my perspective in 2024, life during the Middle Ages is completely different from my current life with the newest technologies and ideas. Most people then worked as farmers growing crops and tending to animals, whereas now a large part of the population works online from home on their computers. The clothing was also drastically different from today, as most people wore tunics and cloaks. However, looking through the lens of my Middle Age self, that life seems very normal. The designs of everyday items were new and innovative. The busy farm lifestyle was normal and common. Universities were brand new and offered few subjects for students to study. Although there are many differences between life in the Middle Ages and today, design during that time was the foundation for the many new inventions in today's world.
-Jackson Harris
What stood out to me the most from the last class session was when we talked about typography being considered an art form. What makes typography an art form is the way the artist meticulously makes and arranges letters to make the written language legible and appealing. The artist's focus was not only to write words on a page but to adorn a blank page with words and images that made sense together. The artist selects the color, typefaces, point size, line length, as well as spacing between the letters and words. Everything is intentional for the reader to see. The artist also places great attention on the blank spaces surrounding the words. Often hand-painting intricate lace and overlapping floral motifs in bright colors accentuating the words on the page. This was not only an art form, but a profession for people before the printer existed. Lettering techniques and rules were passed down through generations before the modern invention of the printer. This was a highly valuable skill to master.
-Marina Velis
Something that particularly stood out to me during last class was the Nuremberg Chronicle by Schedel. This Nuremberg was an illustrated encyclopedia of the late 1400s that chronicled world history, science, and religion of the time. It was divided into seven ages that are based on the same narrative structure as the bible, which I found really interesting. This Chronicle contains more than 1800 illustrations which were made using woodcuts. I imagine the creation of this book must have taken hard work and an extremely long time. It is crazy to think that in the future, our encyclopedias will probably be perceived the same way people in our time period perceive the Nuremberg Chronicle. We can really experience the way people thought in the medieval period. The intricate craftsmanship and dedication to detail in the illustrations further emphasize the immense effort put into capturing the essence of that historical era.
- Emma Friderici
Nice thread, don't mind me.
I see convergence but also difference. Be the guardian of difference, not sameness. Keep the whole thread as a "contrasting" mosaic. Take a look at the whole above you and bring up whatever hasn't been addressed so far. That's key!
One thing that caught my eye in class was the illustration by Roberto Valturio in, "De Re Militari." It is such an intriguing book from the 15th century that offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of warfare during the Renaissance. What really grabs my attention about this work is the way it immerses you in the strategies and technologies of the time.
Valturio's illustrations in the book are absolutely captivating. They give you a vivid picture of how battles were fought back then. From intricate drawings of military machines to depictions of various tactics, it's like stepping into a time machine and witnessing history unfold before your eyes.
Moreover, what I find most interesting is how Valturio emphasizes the importance of adaptation and innovation in warfare. He talks about the need to be flexible and change tactics as situations evolve, which is a lesson that still holds true in modern warfare.
Reading "De Re Militari" not only provides insight into the past but also prompts reflection on the timeless principles of strategy and military thinking. It's a reminder that even in the midst of change, certain fundamentals remain constant.
Overall, "De Re Militari" is a must-read for anyone interested in history, military science, or even just curious about life in the Renaissance. It's like taking a journey back in time and experiencing firsthand the challenges and triumphs of warfare in a bygone era.
- Zac Cronin
What stood out to me was how printing culture was spread through music. Before the invention of the printing press, music scores were copied manually. This was very difficult and the copies were usually never completely accurate. A problem also prevalent with manual copying was copiers stealing and selling works before they were performed for the public. The invention of the printing press allowed the public access to compositions by musicians like Mozart or Beethoven as music journals and newspapers became popular. Musicians gained a wider audience through the distribution of their compositions, which were also reviewed, advertised, and financed by publishers. The advent of the "Golden Age of Music Publishing" in the 19th century led to the standardization of notation in musical compositions. This allowed musicians at all levels to more easily interpret and perform compositions. The access to works of music and the development of printing techniques go hand in hand.
Typography facilitated the production of texts in vernacular languages, making literature and scholarly works accessible to a broader audience, beyond the Latin-speaking clergy and aristocracy. This accessibility was critical in the spread of humanist ideals, which emphasized individual critical thinking and the pursuit of knowledge. The aesthetics of typography itself were influenced by humanist ideals. Humanist scholars sought typefaces that reflected the beauty and clarity of classical texts. This led to the creation of Roman typefaces, inspired by the letterforms found in ancient Roman inscriptions. These typefaces, such as those developed by Nicolas Jenson, were characterized by their proportion, balance, and legibility, embodying the humanist emphasis on harmony and clarity.
I was very drawn towards the Hans Holbein's Imagines Morti woodcut that was shown, and how he was able to utilize allegories in his work that set the tone for the piece. The motifs of deathly figures and images convey the feeling that death is inevitable, all consuming, and all around. The fact that Holbein is able to successfully communicate such depth of emotion right off the bat is wildly impressive, and even more so when looking at the work as a whole. Holbein’s designs include depictions of death in all walks of life, which simultaneously widens the audience that it would impact and creates another underlying theme of connection and equality through death. Death is inescapable no matter what you do in life, and the way in which he represented the dead leading the living out of the mortal realm has impacted and inspired cultures around the globe. Imagines Morti is a prime example of just how meaningful and developed “decorative” art can be, and how visual aids, whether morbid or beautiful, can elevate a viewing experience.
Abigail Rogers
I was very interested in our discussion about how text and image interact. I like the idea that they work simultaneously and complement each other to form a more complex or complete understanding of society. The first illustrated documentation of world history that we analyzed was the Nuremberg Chronicles,1493. I enjoyed the creativity and experimentational aspects of the images in the book. I think it's interesting that we are drawn to fantasy as a form of entertainment, and wonder whether we are drawn to it as a way to explain the unexplainable. It's intriguing that for most of human history as a species we have been interested in things that are weird, different and obscure. I think this obsession with fantasy is rooted in curiosity and learning. My favorite images from the Nuremberg Chronicles were the Siamese twins and the Four Eyed People. The image of the siamese twins is interesting because the figures blur the line between human and non-human forms. They look almost biblical or angelic which I thought was interesting. The image of the Four Eyed People seems to be a pure abstraction of the human body. I liked the way the artist captures multiple eyes on a single face. The image also seems to be related to biblical iconography in the hand gesture.
Benjamin Rosen-Capellazzo
Typefaces are the mirror reflection of the scribe who is writing down the information. Here is the only artistic license a scribe has because other than that he or she must adhere to what is true and copy down a manuscript or other text. Typefaces in their modern context have become ways for people to display information with an underlying sheet of message. An underlying message within a text where the modern scribe can write for example a bold essay with a font that has subtle and soft edges allowing for the reader to not be alarmed. Say we flipped the situation and something soft with a bold typeface is written, a feeling of importance is felt during the reading. Now on a laptop, one has almost endless options to choose from offering more creative liberty in that regard, unlike in the past where the scribe chose from the few he or she had in hand. During the last class I found it interesting the differences in typeface according to certain social classes. It makes total sense for a person or group to decide that to feel unique and of higher society, one has to make the text curved or round, very unique. The Romans differed from the Greeks, the Greeks differed from the Spanish, and so on.
Jacobo Botero
Manutius’s letters that spell out “Frater” stood out to me because they aren't just letters but a series of unique intricate floral patterns. Floral patterns is something that I see that comes up very often in class when looking at calligraphy and codex. I zoomed in to the designs to get a better look and they are even more spectacular up close. I did more research into where floral patterns came from and I learned that it comes from Asia but the group of people that took it and ran away with it was the Islamic artists. They took it to such heights in their calligraphy and architectural design that it's hard not to be impressed. I learned that islamic art design does not include figures of divine people like how Christians depict Jesus, but they depict the Quran in calligraphy. And they understood that calligraphy wasn't good enough but that there always needed to be a reminder of a heavenly place. Flowers are associated with that heavenly place which leads the reader subconsciously to be more at peace.
Diego Chang
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