Francis Thibaudeau (1860, Cholet, France – 1925, Paris) is a French
typographer
Typography is the art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible, readable and appealing when displayed. The arrangement of type involves selecting typefaces, point sizes, line lengths, line-spacing ( leading), an ...
and creator of the first well-established system for classifying typefaces, the
Thibaudeau classification In typography, the Thibaudeau Classification is a way to group typefaces into four general families, according to shape and serif character. Invented in 1921 by the French typographer Francis Thibaudeau, it was expanded by Maximilien Vox in 1954, a ...
. He devised his system while developing the catalogues for the Renault & Marcou and
G. Peignot & Fils foundries in the early 20th century. He worked at
G. Peignot & Fils (1898–1919),
Peignot & Cie (1919–1923), and
Deberny & Peignot
Deberny & Peignot (Fonderie Deberny et Peignot) was a French type foundry, created by the 1923 merger of G. Peignot & Fils and Deberny & Cie. It was bought by the Haas Type Foundry (Switzerland) in 1972, which in turn was merged into D. Stempel ...
(1923–1925).
His book, ''La lettre d'imprimerie'' (''The Letter of the Printing Office''), is printed in
Auriol, a typeface designed by its namesake,
George Auriol and reflecting typical
Art Nouveau design. In this text, he states clearly his patriotic purpose: "May this work of popularization
..inspire interest in the nature of the printed letter and then in the art of its use and applications,
..for the greatest profit of the national industry and the triumph of French art."
[xxv. Quoted in Jubert, p. 74.]
References
* Jubert, Roxane. "The Bauhaus Context: Typography and Graphic Design in France." ''Design Issues''. 22.4 (Autumn 2006): 66–80.
* Consuegra, David. ''American Type Design & Designers''. Allworth Communications, Inc., 2004, p. 26. (, )
Publications by Thibaudeau
* Thibaudeau, Francis. ''La Lettre D'Imprimerie''. Paris: Bureau de l'édition, 1921.
* Thibaudeau, Francis. ''Manuel français de typographie moderne''. Paris: Bureau de l'édition, 1924.
Notes
External links
* Brief biographical article a
Typographie & Civilization
1860 births
1925 deaths
French typographers and type designers
{{France-artist-stub