Lettrism

Lettrism - the graphic art of 20 century

The literary movement founded by Isou in Paris which the painters in 50th s years also jointed (Lemaistre,Spacagna and Savatier). They were inspired by the shape of individual letters or they created the compositions by various way analogical procedure of writting.Letterism is fascinated by lettra (letter or mark).

The writting especially used in free graphic art has countless forms. From perfectly accurate drawing by sharp pen over calligraphy of soft footprint by sable brush, print of dies cast from printing metal spray though pattern, engraving and scribble towards the technique of collage or anticollage. The writting is inspirating source for artists probably for mystery of the expression. We are also attracted to the graphic quality itself which the person of author graphicer, painter, calligrapher gives it many times also by contribution of mechanical helps or based on principal controllable coincidence.

Lettrism is also uncontrollable obssesion of letters passion,playfullness and also strict geometry or rudeness are not strange to it, because opposite lapidary stroke of a brush the letter can be itself valuable holder of signification give completely new content to the task and become its conclusion. The leading representatives are for example Isidore Isou, Henri Michaux, Antoni Tapies.

In the Czech republic they are Eduard Ovčáček, Jiří Kolář and Karel Janoušek.