Maggie's Graphic Arts Blog: The Graphic Renaissance

The Graphic Renaissance: Renaissance Graphic Design

Maggie Merkin

ARTH 230-01

T. Long

The 15^th, 16^th and 17^th centuries proved to be incredibly innovative and impressive in terms of the direction in which Graphic Design was heading. The term Renaissance means “rebirth,” and during this time period, the methods and techniques of graphic design (printing, illustrating, etc.) were being reborn into even more advanced and well known practices. Printing, design, and illustrative techniques began to flourish in Venice, marking the beginning of the Italian Renaissance. Printers began to create their own trademarks, or illustrations that marked their work as their own. These trademarks paid tribute or special attention to the ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs, the forerunners of graphic design. Extremely detailed borders and ornaments (usually floral or natural) were used in collaboration with elaborate and decorated typography. At the same time, woodcut borders and even initials began to be used in books, inspired by Western antiquity and eastern Islamic cultures. In addition to the increase and attention to decorative detail, subject matter for books and other published works shifted from religious beliefs and teachings to more humanist philosophies, with subject matter involving the sciences and scholarly reasoning. In summary, the Italian Renaissance saw innovations to the typographic book in various aspects such as the formation and use of a title page, printed page numbers, roman and italic type, and woodblock and cast metal ornaments. The 15 and 1600’s saw the transition of innovation from Italy to France, marking the “golden age of French typography.” Humanism was more prevalent in France, as excellent scholarship and even more attention to book design was paid. Books began to have outstanding legibility, typography, and ornamentation, thanks to innovations in the French written language (such as the introduction of the apostrophe and accent) and engraving and printing techniques. Overall, the Graphic Renaissance saw incredibly unique techniques and innovations and contributed much to modern day graphic design.