frakturtyper

Frakturtyper is a term used to describe a family of blackletter typefaces designed to reproduce the visual style of Fraktur script. In typographic practice, frakturtyper are associated with traditional German printing and, in some Nordic languages, with analogous blackletter designs. They are distinguished from other script styles by their angular, compact letterforms and their emphasis on vertical strokes.

Historically, frakturtyper emerged with the broader adoption of Fraktur as a printing style in German-speaking regions during the early modern period and remained common from the 17th through the early 20th century. They were part of the wider family of Blackletter scripts that dominated early German typography, alongside other traditions such as Schwabacher and Textura. In the 20th century, the use of Fraktur and its typefaces declined in favor of Antiqua and other modern type styles, particularly in mainstream publishing and digital media.

Design features of frakturtyper typically include dense textures, sharp angles, and distinctive ligatures. Letters often have broken or pointed elements, with elaborate capitals and a rich, formal texture on the page. The letterforms are formed to imitate the hand-written Fraktur script, even as they are produced by metal or digital type.

Today, frakturtyper are primarily used for stylistic or historic effect. They appear in branding, book covers, signage, and editorial layouts that aim to evoke tradition, heritage, or a vintage aesthetic. Digital fonts that emulate Fraktur are widely available and used by designers seeking period-appropriate or culturally specific textures.

See also: Blackletter, Fraktur, Textura, Schwabacher.