Janson
Encyclopedia
Janson is the name given to an old-style serif typeface
named for Dutch
punch-cutter and printer Anton Janson
. Research in the 1970s and early 1980s, however, concluded that the typeface was the work of a Hungarian punch-cutter named Miklós (Nicholas) Tótfalusi Kis. Tótfalusi Kis traveled to Amsterdam
in 1680 to apprentice under Dirk Voskens and cut several typeface while working under Voskens, producing a roman text face c. 1685 upon which present-day Janson is based. Tótfalusi Kis also cut Greek
and Hebrew typefaces, both for use in printing Polyglot Bibles. Janson shows strong influence of the Dutch Baroque
typefaces.
A revival of the face was designed in 1937 by Chauncey H. Griffith
of the Mergenthaler Linotype foundry
. The revival was taken from the original matrices, held since 1919 by the Stempel Foundry, Mergenthaler's exclusive agent in Europe.
The most common digital version, Janson Text, comes from a metal version produced by Hermann Zapf in the 1950s at Stemple, based on Kis' original matrices.
Despite its 17th-century origins, Janson is used in a wide variety of contemporary text applications. As of the magazine's 2011 redesign, Architectural Digest
uses Janson for body text in all of its articles.
Typeface
In typography, a typeface is the artistic representation or interpretation of characters; it is the way the type looks. Each type is designed and there are thousands of different typefaces in existence, with new ones being developed constantly....
named for Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
punch-cutter and printer Anton Janson
Anton Janson
Anton Janson was a Dutch type founder and printer.The typeface Janson is named for him, although it can also be attributed to Hungarian punch-cutter and printer Miklós Kis -References:*Carter, Rob, Day, Ben, Meggs,Philip...
. Research in the 1970s and early 1980s, however, concluded that the typeface was the work of a Hungarian punch-cutter named Miklós (Nicholas) Tótfalusi Kis. Tótfalusi Kis traveled to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
in 1680 to apprentice under Dirk Voskens and cut several typeface while working under Voskens, producing a roman text face c. 1685 upon which present-day Janson is based. Tótfalusi Kis also cut Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and Hebrew typefaces, both for use in printing Polyglot Bibles. Janson shows strong influence of the Dutch Baroque
Dutch Baroque
Dutch Baroque architecture is a variety of Baroque architecture that flourished in the Dutch Republic and its colonies during the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century - Dutch painting during the period is covered by Dutch Golden Age painting....
typefaces.
A revival of the face was designed in 1937 by Chauncey H. Griffith
Chauncey H. Griffith
Chauncey H. Griffith , American printer and typeface designer. Griffith was born in the U.S. state of Ohio, and began his career as a compositor and pressman. In 1906 he joined the Mergenthaler Linotype Company as part of their sales force...
of the Mergenthaler Linotype foundry
Type foundry
A type foundry is a company that designs or distributes typefaces. Originally, type foundries manufactured and sold metal and wood typefaces and matrices for line-casting machines like the Linotype and Monotype machines designed to be printed on letterpress printers...
. The revival was taken from the original matrices, held since 1919 by the Stempel Foundry, Mergenthaler's exclusive agent in Europe.
The most common digital version, Janson Text, comes from a metal version produced by Hermann Zapf in the 1950s at Stemple, based on Kis' original matrices.
Despite its 17th-century origins, Janson is used in a wide variety of contemporary text applications. As of the magazine's 2011 redesign, Architectural Digest
Architectural Digest
Architectural Digest is an American monthly magazine. Its principal subject is interior design, not — as the name of the magazine might suggest — architecture more generally. The magazine is published by Condé Nast Publications and was founded in 1920, by the Knapp family, who sold it in 1993...
uses Janson for body text in all of its articles.