Micrography
Encyclopedia
Micrography also called microcalligraphy, is a Jewish form of calligram
s developed in the 9th century, with parallels in Christianity and Islam, utilizing minute Hebrew letters
to form representational, geometric and abstract designs. Colored micrography is especially distinctive because these rare artworks are customarily rendered in black and white.
There is a relationship between this form of art, employing both digital and analogic symbols, and the restrictions on images found in the second commandment. Micrography provides a unique solution to the visual artist who wishes to remain devout in observation of Jewish law, by using only text, not images per se. As similar restrictions exist in certain Muslim
societies, this solution has been adapted in Islamic calligraphy
to the Arabic alphabet
as well.
Calligram
A calligram is a poem, phrase, or word in which the typeface, calligraphy or handwriting is arranged in a way that creates a visual image. The image created by the words expresses visually what the word, or words, say. In a poem, it manifests visually the theme presented by the text of the poem...
s developed in the 9th century, with parallels in Christianity and Islam, utilizing minute Hebrew letters
Hebrew alphabet
The Hebrew alphabet , known variously by scholars as the Jewish script, square script, block script, or more historically, the Assyrian script, is used in the writing of the Hebrew language, as well as other Jewish languages, most notably Yiddish, Ladino, and Judeo-Arabic. There have been two...
to form representational, geometric and abstract designs. Colored micrography is especially distinctive because these rare artworks are customarily rendered in black and white.
Description
The artwork is created from text that forms an image when viewed at a distance, creating an interplay between the text and image. The Photomosaic, whose tiny individual images form a mosaics when viewed from a distance, is a modern analogue.Motivation
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
societies, this solution has been adapted in Islamic calligraphy
Islamic calligraphy
Islamic calligraphy, colloquially known as Perso-Arabic calligraphy, is the artistic practice of handwriting, or calligraphy, and by extension, of bookmaking, in the lands sharing a common Islamic cultural heritage. This art form is based on the Arabic script, which for a long time was used by all...
to the Arabic alphabet
Arabic alphabet
The Arabic alphabet or Arabic abjad is the Arabic script as it is codified for writing the Arabic language. It is written from right to left, in a cursive style, and includes 28 letters. Because letters usually stand for consonants, it is classified as an abjad.-Consonants:The Arabic alphabet has...
as well.
External links
- Micrography: Text Art and Typography
- Leila Avrin, Interlaces and Grotesques: the Art of Hebrew Micrography, Jewish Heritage Online Magazine
- A 13th Century Pentateuch British Library, BL Add. MS 21160
- A German Pentateuch, c. 1300 British Library, BL Add. MS 15282
- Jewish Theological Seminary exhibit on Micrography
- Judaic Treasures of the Library of Congress, from the Jewish Virtual Library