The first basic forms of visual communication, writing and typography - commonly abbreviated "typo" - date back to the Upper Paleolithic, when cave paintings used symbols as a form of language. But as each civilization progressed, its need for communication became more complex. Thus, history has seen the evolution of writing and typography from Egyptian hieroglyphs with symbols to the capital alphabet of the Romans to the culmination of the history of modern typography: the invention of the movable printing press in the 15th century by Johannes Gutenberg. Its evolution has not stopped since, and writing has also become part of the history of art.
One of the students of the Bauhaus movement had a significant impact on typography and other art forms by developing the famous Sans-serif type, whose aesthetic has influenced many artists and art movements. With the rise of technological capabilities and pop art, artists like Andy Warhol reproduced the shapes of consumer products, as well as the fonts used in their advertisements. As always, contemporary art has redefined traditional typing practices. Typography is particularly important in street art. The French artist L'Atlas uses it in particular and shows us that the borders between men and art forms exist only in our minds. Typography is not limited to a visual expression, it is an art form in its own right.
Artsper has prepared a selection of typographic works for you. Whether you prefer italic script or typewriter-like writing, or simply want to get a message across, with works by Ben, Ophelia Mouco or Sophie Calle, there is something for everyone.
