Long, elegant strokes, careful, precise movement, the act of combining the average written word with a form of its very own beauty. From ancient scripts to medieval manuscripts, once the sole centerpiece of communication. Calligraphy is a historical concept recognized for its ability to create visual stunners and masterpieces from the mere written word. Thus, World Calligraphy Day is celebrated on the second Wednesday of August each year. Created in 2017 to appreciate this art’s impact in the modern age. Promote the value of calligraphy in the digital age. Although, with the continued rise and advancement of digital technology, calligraphy faces the threat of becoming one of our many lost arts.
The cause for this is the decline, you might ask. While not determined, many point fingers at the modern world and the rise of digital technology in our wake. With its emphasis on speed and efficiency, this modern age has unfortunately caused our slow, deliberate hand lettering process to be less practical and in demand. Despite this, there remains a dedicated community of artists who have committed their time and efforts to preserving this timeless craft. Read on with us to find out more about this magnificent and underappreciated art form!
The Rapid Decline of Calligraphy
As mentioned, there could be several different factors as to why calligraphy just simply isn’t as popular anymore. However, primarily it would be best to focus on the rise of technology. Since digital communication and word processing software are so in demand and sought after these days, the need for handwritten documents has simply diminished over time. Keyboards are so much more convenient and faster in comparison to the technical and laborious process of calligraphy. Calligraphy can easily be copied on the computer, depending on which font is chosen.
This leads to evidential changes being made in our education. In many schools, cursive handwriting — the key fundamental foundation to calligraphy — is no longer a standard part of the curriculum. Numerous people today can barely write their own signatures. Our educational priorities are digital literacy. There is no time or opportunity like now for our children or anyone to appreciate the beauty that is Calligraphy.
If you wish to appreciate Calligraphy on this day, I recommend The Art and History of Calligraphy by Patricia Lovett. It is a wonderfully worded book that perfectly describes the expansive history of calligraphy, filled with beautifully fully covered manuscripts to truly capture your attention.
Artists’ Enduring Appreciation for Calligraphy
It is known that calligraphy’s rich history is a reason why this art preserves such profound cultural and artistic significance. That it’s true beauty lies in the extensive care and detail with which each letter is formed, embodying both the skill of the writer and the aesthetic values of the time. To those artists out there who aim to preserve such an art, calligraphy is not simply writing to them; it is about creating art that speaks to their soul, reflecting personal and cultural identity.
A beautiful piece that dives into this encompassing beauty is an illustrated memoir titled Calligraphy: How I Fell In, Out, and In Love Again, written by a current calligraphic artist, Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord. She tells the journey of how she first started writing calligraphy with a multitude of delightful photographs of her work. As well as how her love for art fluctuated over time, before eventually increased tenfold as she fell in love with the fascinating art form once again. It is beautifully written and a very easy and quick read that’s perfect to curl up with.
How Can You Help Preserve Calligraphy?
If you also wish to help save this art from becoming one of our many dying arts, there are multiple different avenues for you to dabble into. There is Calligraphic Workbook for Beginners by Maureen Peters if you desire to create the written art yourself. It is a simple, easy guide for anyone to be able to follow. There are even digital courses available to teach calligraphy, with online courses, tutorials, etc. Social media can be used to spread awareness and provide resources for aspiring artists. By combining our traditional techniques with the new digital technology, these strategies can strengthen calligraphy’s popularity in the new digital age.
Overall, calligraphy is an underappreciated and wonderful art form that has been preserved and evolved throughout history for many years. To help preserve this written art for many more years to come, you could always try to take some time out of your day to appreciate our upcoming calligraphy artists with us.
Want to find out more about art? Read here.
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