Up until the late-19th century, fraktur was the main style of type used in Denmark, Sweden, and the Czech lands. It was used quite a lot in the Netherlands, and even a bit in the UK and France, not to mention Switzlerland and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This ridiculous idea that fraktur is a uniquely German phenominom is a 20th century construction.
Noordzej evn points out that Fraktur itself is a French, or rather Burgundian invention, contrary to what German historians tend to believe.
But Joannah is right, I think. I’m assuing that fraktur—or any blackletter—wouldn’t be a fit for 19th century Russia.
When a traditional or modern serif isn’t what you are looking for, what about a fat sans serif? Or a slab or clarendon? I know that there are Cyrillic versions of these now, but I don’t know when they came on the scene. Would it be anachronistic to use a Cyrillic clarendon for a 19th-century purpose?
Yes. Cyrillic Clarendons were introduced I think after WWII, when they corresponded nicely to the brutish mediocrity of late-Stalinist Russian culture.
What about other 19th century advertising faces? Faces that still lend themselves well to display? What trends carried over to Russia before the revolution?
Rubbish condensed grotesques, from German-owned companies, were used for advertising. Reforma - what an irritating name - is a conspicuously pointless revival of this breed in, we are told, characteristically Russian form. I can’t see it. The closest typographic fit in general use to 19th century Russian high culture would be something like Monotype Walbaum: of the period, originally German, and readable.
> This ridiculous idea that fraktur is a uniquely
> German phenominom is a 20th century construction.
Altough “uniquely” is indeed too strong, Germanness is certainly a central feature of the contemporary perception of fraktur. And weren’t you the one who singled out Germany as the country where people wouldn’t touch fraktur with a 10-foot pole? Not that Poles get as tall as Dutchmen. ;-)
Yes. But just because many contemporary Germans perceive Fraktur (and really all blackletters) as being German (i.e., “bad German) doesn’t mean that they are right (on either count)
I mean, really; if everyone in a country’s believing in something made it right, then…
Sorry for the late post, but I had an idea which I thought might be interesting beyond the immediate context of the request.
There are certain Cyrillic characters that have features which correspond to typeface styles in western fonts.
So, if you use any 19th century Latin face which has such a style, it will look slightly Cyrillic. For instance, these Cyrillic characters don’t have straight legs, so don’t use a typeface which has similar Latin characters that are straight-legged.
Again, Cyrillic has many characters which have a strong emphasis along the baseline, x-height line, and cap line, so use a Latin typeface that has a similar emphasis.
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17.Jan.2006 10.45am
Paratype Elizabeth is a Modern face based on the Latin types of the mid-18th century Russian Academy of Sciences.
17.Jan.2006 11.44am
Almost any classic typeface would do (Bodonia, Caslon, Garamond), but definitely NOT Fraktur, which is a decidedly German typeface.
18.Jan.2006 8.32am
Thank you, George, for your suggestion. It works well and the client liked it. A good combination!
Best regards,
Joannah
18.Jan.2006 8.46am
which is a decidedly German typeface.
Up until the late-19th century, fraktur was the main style of type used in Denmark, Sweden, and the Czech lands. It was used quite a lot in the Netherlands, and even a bit in the UK and France, not to mention Switzlerland and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This ridiculous idea that fraktur is a uniquely German phenominom is a 20th century construction.
Noordzej evn points out that Fraktur itself is a French, or rather Burgundian invention, contrary to what German historians tend to believe.
But Joannah is right, I think. I’m assuing that fraktur—or any blackletter—wouldn’t be a fit for 19th century Russia.
When a traditional or modern serif isn’t what you are looking for, what about a fat sans serif? Or a slab or clarendon? I know that there are Cyrillic versions of these now, but I don’t know when they came on the scene. Would it be anachronistic to use a Cyrillic clarendon for a 19th-century purpose?
18.Jan.2006 9.24am
Yes. Cyrillic Clarendons were introduced I think after WWII, when they corresponded nicely to the brutish mediocrity of late-Stalinist Russian culture.
18.Jan.2006 9.34am
What about other 19th century advertising faces? Faces that still lend themselves well to display? What trends carried over to Russia before the revolution?
18.Jan.2006 9.44am
Rubbish condensed grotesques, from German-owned companies, were used for advertising. Reforma - what an irritating name - is a conspicuously pointless revival of this breed in, we are told, characteristically Russian form. I can’t see it. The closest typographic fit in general use to 19th century Russian high culture would be something like Monotype Walbaum: of the period, originally German, and readable.
24.Jan.2006 7.14am
> This ridiculous idea that fraktur is a uniquely
> German phenominom is a 20th century construction.
Altough “uniquely” is indeed too strong, Germanness is certainly a central feature of the contemporary perception of fraktur. And weren’t you the one who singled out Germany as the country where people wouldn’t touch fraktur with a 10-foot pole? Not that Poles get as tall as Dutchmen. ;-)
hhp
24.Jan.2006 11.02am
And weren’t you the one…
Yes. But just because many contemporary Germans perceive Fraktur (and really all blackletters) as being German (i.e., “bad German) doesn’t mean that they are right (on either count)
I mean, really; if everyone in a country’s believing in something made it right, then…
24.Jan.2006 11.18am
... democracy could work! :-/
Yes, you do have a point. Now please think about it more.
hhp
24.Jan.2006 11.49am
?
24.Jan.2006 11.49am
Sorry for the late post, but I had an idea which I thought might be interesting beyond the immediate context of the request.
There are certain Cyrillic characters that have features which correspond to typeface styles in western fonts.
So, if you use any 19th century Latin face which has such a style, it will look slightly Cyrillic. For instance, these Cyrillic characters don’t have straight legs, so don’t use a typeface which has similar Latin characters that are straight-legged.
Again, Cyrillic has many characters which have a strong emphasis along the baseline, x-height line, and cap line, so use a Latin typeface that has a similar emphasis.