Calligraphy
Calligraphy, often referred to as the art of writing, is a type of visual art that produces elegant handwriting. The word calligraphy is derived from the Greek words 'kallos' (which means "beauty") and 'graphe' (which means "writing").
According to experts, calligraphy is a combination of an art form and a craft. In its simplest form, calligraphy involves writing letters in an artistic manner using a few or several direct strokes. A person practising the art of calligraphy is called a calligrapher. Such a person's objective is to express emotion and beauty in writing.
The ancient origins of calligraphy take us back to the cavemen days where the experiences in a caveman's life were drawn on the walls of caves. With the development of humans, such drawings also became more advanced and around 3500 BC the Egyptians created hieroglyphics - symbols that were based on humans/gods, animals and implements. Around 1000 BC, one of the first alphabets and writing systems were introduced by the Phoenicians, who spread this knowledge to every seaport they passed on their travels around the world. It is believed that the Greeks, who developed a writing form of their own, were influenced by the Phoenicians.
In ancient times, before man invented the printing press, calligraphy was used to produce books. Every copy of a book was carefully handwritten by a scribe using a quill and ink. With the invention of the printing press, faster printing of books was possible. However, handwriting skills continued to be in high demand as the printing press was not practical for daily correspondence such as letters and invitations.
There are three main styles of calligraphy widely found in the world today. They are - Western (also called Roman), Arabic and Oriental (also called Chinese). Over the centuries, calligraphy has withstood the challenges of a variety of man's inventions such as the printing press, steel and fountain pens, and more recently, the computer. Calligraphy continues to grow in calligraphic societies in the United States and Europe. Calligraphy is also a highly respected art form in both the Chinese and the Arabs cultures.
In modern times, calligraphy has a variety of practical use in day-to-day life. It is widely used in various occasions such as invitations for wedding and other events, greeting cards, font designing, logo designing, graphic designing, memorial documents, legal documents, business cards, maps, menus, cut stone inscriptions and even documentation such as birth or death certificates.
