Lettrism - Joao Vieira

I have always had a great interest in type and how a typeface, size and colour can be differently interpreted. Lettrism was a movement that was all about knowledge and knowing. It was formed in 1940’s and was developed to be used as a third visual after figurative and abstract. The meaning of lettrism wasn’t at all about the meaning of type but was solely for the purpose of art. 

This movement wasn’t to be mistaken with letterists of which would keep medias separated rather than collected. Lettrism was also not its own language like many may have understood that way or tried to, but was the collaboration of art and type/symbols purely for art.

Joao Vieira was a Portuguese artist that enjoyed the feel of type and body form and the compatability in transition. He studied in Lisbon and then later in Paris also studied at 

‘Academie de la Grande’. His paintings were abstract and had simple elements with thick ink execution.