Meggs History of Graphic Design
GRA 111
CHAPTER 1
The Invention of Writing
Cave painting from Lascaux, c. 15,000-10,000 bce.
Random placement and shifting scale signify prehistoric people’s lack of structure and sequence in recording their experience.
Media:
Ground pigments – charcoal for black, yellows, reds and browns from iron oxides
Binder – animal fat
Substrate – (aka: ground) cave walls and ceilings
Application – fingers, reed brushes or breath
Chauvet Caves
Two periods of production: 27,000-26,000 BCE and 30,000-32,000 BCE. Oldest drawing carbon dated at 32,900 BCE.
The earliest form of visual communication
Likely purposes: Ritual Survival Utility
Petroglyph
Carved or scratched sign or figure on rock.
Ideograph
A symbol that represents an idea or concept.
Pictograph
Elementary picture of sketch representing the thing depicted.
1. What do you see?
2. What don’t you see
3. Why superimposition?
Sumerian Ziggurat
Developments of settled societies: a system of deities, organization of commerce and technological innovations. Driving these and future developments was the invention of writing.
Rebus Writing
Pictographs representing words and syllables
Phonogram
Graphic symbol representing a sound
Cuneiform
Wedge – shaped
Triangular tipped stylus pressed into clay
Standardized characters
Scribes train in edubba from an early age to master the complex system
Blue monument, C. 3100-2700 BCE
Combined words and picture
Relief – figures or text raised above ground
Etching or Intaglio – figures or text incised into ground
Writing is catalyst for storage and dissemination of information
Gudea
Ruled polis of Lagash C. 2150 BCE
Devotional status carved in Diorite
Writing on lower garment contains his name and a list of his achievements
Law Code of Hammurabi
(Babylonian, C. 1800-1750 BCE)
Diorite stele
Cuneiform text
Laws and punishments
Connects divinity and
CHAPTER 1
The Invention of Writing
Cave painting from Lascaux, c. 15,000-10,000 bce.
Random placement and shifting scale signify prehistoric people’s lack of structure and sequence in recording their experience.
Media:
Ground pigments – charcoal for black, yellows, reds and browns from iron oxides
Binder – animal fat
Substrate – (aka: ground) cave walls and ceilings
Application – fingers, reed brushes or breath
Chauvet Caves
Two periods of production: 27,000-26,000 BCE and 30,000-32,000 BCE. Oldest drawing carbon dated at 32,900 BCE.
The earliest form of visual communication
Likely purposes: Ritual Survival Utility
Petroglyph
Carved or scratched sign or figure on rock.
Ideograph
A symbol that represents an idea or concept.
Pictograph
Elementary picture of sketch representing the thing depicted.
1. What do you see?
2. What don’t you see
3. Why superimposition?
Sumerian Ziggurat
Developments of settled societies: a system of deities, organization of commerce and technological innovations. Driving these and future developments was the invention of writing.
Rebus Writing
Pictographs representing words and syllables
Phonogram
Graphic symbol representing a sound
Cuneiform
Wedge – shaped
Triangular tipped stylus pressed into clay
Standardized characters
Scribes train in edubba from an early age to master the complex system
Blue monument, C. 3100-2700 BCE
Combined words and picture
Relief – figures or text raised above ground
Etching or Intaglio – figures or text incised into ground
Writing is catalyst for storage and dissemination of information
Gudea
Ruled polis of Lagash C. 2150 BCE
Devotional status carved in Diorite
Writing on lower garment contains his name and a list of his achievements
Law Code of Hammurabi
(Babylonian, C. 1800-1750 BCE)
Diorite stele
Cuneiform text
Laws and punishments
Connects divinity and