Blacklettertyylejä

Blacklettertyylejä, often simply called blackletter, refer to a family of typefaces and script styles that emerged in the early Middle Ages in Western Europe, particularly in Germany. The name derives from the German “schwarzer Lettern,” meaning “black letter,” because the letters were traditionally written in black ink on parchment or vellum. Blackletter is characterized by its dense, angular strokes, steep verticals, and lack of serifs, which give the text a compact, almost calligraphic appearance.

The earliest examples can be traced back to the 12th century, with the Textura style being the first recognizable form. By the 1470s, the Fraktur style rose to prominence in German-speaking regions, replacing Textura in official and commercial printing. Fraktur remained the dominant type in German-speaking lands for several centuries, shaping the visual culture of books, legal documents, and newspapers. Other regional variants, such as Rotunda and Schwabacher, also appeared, each with distinct characteristics and local popularity.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, blackletter experienced a decline as more legible sans‑serif typefaces like Antiqua came into favor. Nevertheless, it retained cultural significance and was used in German national symbolism. During the late 20th century, blackletter saw a digital revival, leading to its availability on modern operating systems and its use in fashion, branding, and graphic design. Today, blacklettertyylejä are studied by typographers and historians, and they continue to influence contemporary typographic design while preserving a crucial link to medieval European printing traditions.