Calligram

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A calligram is a poem, phrase, or word in which the typeface, calligraphy or handwriting is arranged in a way that creates a visual image. The image created by the words expresses visually what the word, or words, say. In a poem, it manifests visually the theme presented by the text of the poem. Guillaume Apollinaire was a famous calligram writer and author of a book of poems called Calligrammes. His poem written in the form of the Eiffel Tower is an example of a calligram.

Gallery

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  Calligram of a tiger in Arabic script

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  Calligram of a snake in Georgian script

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  Calligram about the Eiffel Tower by Guillaume Apollinaire

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  Biggest Calligram in the World, part of the permanent exhibition of the Valencian Museum of Ethnology.

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  Calligram by Guillaume Apollinaire

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  In 1834 Le Charivari satiric newspaper was condamned because it published a drawing of the king in a shape of Pear. The newspaper was condemn to publish the judgement on cover page. So it is published in the shape of a pear.

See also

• Ambigram
• Concrete poetry
• Islamic calligraphy
• Micrography
• Visual poetry

References

• Sonja A.J. Neef: Kalligramme. Zur Medialität einer Schrift. Anhand von Paul van Ostaijens "De feesten van angst en pijn". Amsterdam: ASCA Press 2000
• Deme, Zoltan: Poem-miniatures. In: Chords of Scales, Globe Publish House 1995. Library of Congress No: 2003278749
• Post-War Japanese Poetry (with lots of Japanese calligrams), Penguin Books, 1972.

External links

• A collection of calligrams by Laura Ruggeri