A technical dictionary of printmaking, André Béguin.
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Calligraphy
In the history of printmaking calligraphy (the art of drawing letters beautifully) must be differentiated from techniques of reproducing letters by intaglio, relief, or planographic means.
Calligraphy has often accompagnied figures and images and its development has paralleled that of manuscript illumination as of the 15th century. At the beginning calligraphic letters were ornamented letters of the alphabet. During the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries this art developed yet further and became an increasingly complicated mixture of letters and drawings which stand by themselves and which should not be confused with the titles of engravings which were also beatifully ornamented. [incunabula , reproduction).
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