39 Comments
User's avatar
David Erroll's avatar

"Charlemagne had inherited a fra[k]tured Europe"

(•_•) ( •_•)>⌐■-■ (⌐■_■)

Sharon Hays's avatar

Great read. As a graphic designer I was never exposed to the origins of the typefaces Ai worked with or how they came about to be named. I've learned something important today. Thank you.

Sharon Hays's avatar

That's "I worked with" not Ai. Sheesh.

billionaires don't's avatar

You didn't mention Alcuin Of York , he never gets his dues for essentially inventing Carolingian, the man was the premier genius of his day, but largely keeps getting ignored in popular write ups. I've never figured out why. When I studied this at uni he was given his flowers, but even on the wiki for Carolingian he only gets a brief mention.

weird medieval guys's avatar

he was in there as part of a much longer thing abt Carolingian Renaissance but the article was like 5k words so i decided to chop it down a bit :(

Somewhere An Apiary's avatar

What an interesting and informative read to find in the ol’ inbox today. Gramercy for both your research and for sharing it!

The Blind Man Sees's avatar

Something that never changes throughout history is the need for a central authority to find something to unify territories under it's control. It is fascinating how typefaces featured so prominently in this.

🪽‎'s avatar

fascinating!!!!!!

Mary Dockray-Miller's avatar

Wow! Thanks for this font tour and totally bizarre Hitler connection (!!?$%)--

Alison Clouston's avatar

So interesting and beautifully illustrated, as usual. Thanks

The Bearded Belgian's avatar

Excellent blogpost. Thank you.

Ro’s Ramblings's avatar

Super interesting read!

wyrdhounds's avatar

Interesting, thank you!

[industry & idleness]'s avatar

Very good read, thank you

Wizard Thief Fighter's avatar

“That actual Germans might read it 1400 years in the future and use it as the basis for an entire national movement probably never crossed his mind.”

Probably. 😂

Jay Borden's avatar

What a great read. I got to spend my morning being fascinated and learning associations between my everyday reading, the rise of fascism, and renaissance scholarship, instead of doomscrolling the latest hideous news. Thank you.

Migraineur's avatar

Timely reading considering the Trump administration labeling Calibri as woke.

Charlotteleclerc's avatar

what an interesting read. thank you for your time and research