Fraktur. Just looking at the word itself allows us to guess its meaning, since it so resembles the English word “fracture”. And that’s exactly it! Fraktur letters are “broken up” into bits with lots of angles and curves in them.

Fraktur falls into the category of Gothic styles of calligraphy, along with Textura Quadrata, Rotunda, Bastarda, and their many variants. Credited to Albrecht Dürer and Hieronymus Andreae, Fraktur first appeared in the 16th century and was used regularly right up until the Second World War, especially in German-speaking countries. Even still, certain newspapers and ad agencies use Fraktur-style letters in printed paper titles, logos, and advertisements.

Even if we tend to think of the gothic styles as being quite strict, the Fraktur has immense possibilities for decoration, fantasy, and embellishment. What’s more, many letters have several different forms and styles. Variety is the spice of life.

This course was designed for a 3.8 mm parallel pen, although a traditional 4mm broad nib or calligraphy marker will do just as well. A pointed pen is not suitable for this type of calligraphy.

P.S. If you're a complete beginner in calligraphy, this probably isn't the best course to start will. Try the simple gothic hand or the foundational hand instead.