Die drei Thannhaeuser Schriften

The artist’s name here (Herbert Thannhaeuser) means more than a designation; it is a declaration, the sign of a formal will that, undeterred by commonplace taste, must shape its own expression. Those who have learned to understand the unwritten laws of typography must create new forms so that writing does not ossify in conventions, so that printed works can break free from their formulaic uniformity, and so that meaningful typography can serve the word in artistic freedom. At least that’s what the intro to this specimen declares. We declare that this face always reminds of Carter Sans—until we compare and contrast and see that one has not much to do with the other. But they share a feel. Anyway. As they were saying: Artistic freedom: that is the guiding principle of Thannhaeuser typefaces. The basic typeface begins with this in its vibrations and swellings, in the rise and fall of its forms, which unite to form the unity and tranquility of good type. Every capital letter stands elegantly and simply. It goes on, but we will spare you, leaving you with the following: Artistic freedom through a new typeface family . . . not for everyone . . . but a joy for all whose own work points towards new goals. And it’s from the Schriftguss foundry in Dresden.