American Folk Art: Index Card a Day 2013

This week for ICAD, I am featuring

Pennsylvania Dutch motifs from 

Frakturs.  Fraktur-schrift, as it was 

termed in Germany, was a form of calligraphy

named after the 16th century typeface called Fraktur.

(When I learned calligraphy in high school, we

called this style Old English.)  Frakturs were illuminated

documents such as birth and baptismal certificates,

book plates, house blessings and valentines.

Frakturs were highly ornamental, hand drawn and colored,

and usually executed by the schoolmaster
or clergyman, though itinerant artists
were also sometimes available.

The schoolmaster was expected to prepare important 

documents, and also teach his students how to write.

Sometimes the schoolmaster would use an example

of his calligraphy as a reward and token of regard,

presented to one of his students. 

Promising students would copy their schoolmaster's

calligraphy models, but usually with a few changes of

their own, thus developing their own style.

This week's index cards feature motifs that would
be just one small design within the very complex Fraktur.

Highly stylized decorative flowers and birds

were favorite motifs, as was the heart.  Animals

were also sometimes included, such as stags and 

unicorns.  Some Frakturs feature angels or mermaids.

When you consider that the artist was using a 

dip pen, these detailed art works are even
more impressive. Dipping a pen nib into an ink bottle,
 controlling the pressure and direction of each stroke,
 with an eye to the spacing, form

and shape of each letter is quite an intricate task.

Sadly, the increasing popularity of the printing press

decreased the demand for hand-lettered documents.

Fortunately, the highest grade of cotton rag paper

created by Pennsylvania papermakers has

helped these records survive for us to enjoy today.

Source: Treasury of American Design, Vol. 2;

by C. P. Hornung; Abrams Publishing,  c. 1973.