Calligraphy

Calligraphy is the art of fine writing or script. The term calligraphy is derived from the Greek kalligraphia, meaning “beautiful writing,” and is applied to individual letters as well as to entire documents; it also refers to an aesthetic branch of paleography. In Islamic countries and in India, China, and Japan, calligraphy is done with a brush and has been a highly respected art form for many centuries (see Chinese Art and Architecture; Japanese Art and Architecture). In the West, calligraphy eventually evolved from the earliest cave paintings, such as those (35,000-20,000 BC) at Lascaux, France, into the abstractions that became the familiar letterforms of the alphabet.


Japanese Calligraphy
This hanging scroll is an example of Japanese calligraphy. Although calligraphy is generally considered a form of lettering, it is also a drawing style. The lettering and figure of a sage are done in ink, using a brush. The rectangular forms are made with stamps, using red ink.