Carolingian Manual Layout

CAROLINGIAN LAYOUT 

This image from a Carolingian manuscript caught my attention due to its layout.

This is from an era with no concept of type setting. The letters were written on paper. 

You can see traces of ruled lines on the page since they didnt have the option of deleting bottom layers or grids that can be turned on and off. This is also perhaps tells us this was a copy for reading not display. The spacing between lines would also be useful for interlineal notes.

Note also the 2 forms of S - one for titles and another for lower case word endings and in the medial position.

There are a few errors Sed intra looks like one word. 

The spacings between sentences are not consistent and it looks as if the scribe was thinking too much about where to put the full stops?

Overall however its quite readable and those variances remember us of the differences between handwritten and printed documents and hte advantages for final edits of a computer?

Perhaps just for practice and after checking the modern Latin forms try typesetting this in a word processing program? Then study the differences?

Dragon on a Signboard - Layout example

Dragon on a signboard

I am sharing this as an example of layout problems. This is no Kano masterpiece just a simple signboard at a Japanese temple. Note however the artist has fitted the composition to the shape of the board with the writing forming a frame.

A brief look at Merovingian

#merovingian #script #halfuncial

Merovingian script is NOT one of the high points of European script development and design.

Frankly it looks like some one at one monastic workshop taught his personal script to his students and it spread to other workshops until replaced by the Carolingian scripts. I also suspect whoever initialized this half uncial form was reacting against the ornate layouts and decoration of Irish books?

However I can see  elements or perhaps seeds within Merovingian style that later bloomed into something richer.

Merovingian has almost exaggerated ascenders and descenders compared to uncial or later scripts.

Also a love of "white space" ... king of the franks pippin 4 ...

and geometric grid based layouts

a limited color palette but some playfulness with initials

but that limited palette shows some Irish influence and moments of elegance

finally this delightful"kissing fish"  letter !

Kawaii and Miyabi poster for exhibition

Kawaii and Miyabi

Cuteness and Elegance in Japanese Design

I was looking of images of Cherry Blossom SAKURA to illustrate how Kanji are used in Layouts thinking this fits into this blog's theme however loosely because Cherry Blossom is a cultural symbol.

I found two very contrasting images.

Poster for show of Atomi paintings

This gorgeous poster as far as I can make out on the wierd translation of the website and my limited Japanese is for a show of late Rimpa ? Hasegawa ? style paintings by a Japanese woman painter called Atomi who was also famous for supporting women's education.

wonderful elegance layout that has yuugasa and miyabi and its just gorgeous!

however due to the large number of manga and anime pics online to find this image I also had to scroll thru a lot of images associated with a character called Sakurahime Princess Sakura .

It's extremely KAWAII and SHOJO and barely saved from being kitsch by the designers skilful use of cherry blossoms and a related color set in the background counter balancing the calligraphy to the right  and plainer text at the bottom.

If I understand the Wiki this was also created by a female artist?

It's not a manga / anime I'm very familiar with so if you are a Sakura fan accept my apology.

My idea of a shojo is more beautiful creative and brilliant Winfrey from Full Metal Alchemist.

Finally a example of Sakura rendered with elegance on a kimono possibly one of  the best and most beautiful way to display this national symbol?.

You're welcome to share other examples of Miyabi and Kawaii linked to Cherry Blossom!