Chinese calligraphy : an introduction to its aesthetic and technique : with 6 plates and 155 text illustratons

CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY

Another type of ‘dead’ character—though this kind is executed by hand—is the ‘ decorative’ one (Fig. 70) widely used nowadays in advertisements. Superficially, this © style’ is not without attraction; but on examination each stroke is seen to have been painted,—not executed with a single stroke of the brush,—and the product is accordingly wooden.

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FIG. 70

I give below (Fig. 71) some experimental diagrams which I think will enable the reader to compare the aesthetic response in himself to printed and well-written strokes. I have deliberately refrained from forming the strokes into actual characters in order not to distract the reader’s attention with an invitation to discover some possible meaning. The first two examples represent the printed character, the other three represent various lively movements such as are to be found in different styles of calligraphy.

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FIG. 71

If these simple lines can produce such markedly different visual impressions, how much more must be possible with the

complex shapes and contours of actual characters ! [ 116 ]