The Art & Science of a Signature
In celebration of Independence Day, the New York Public Library displayed (July 1 and 2 only) an original manuscript of the Declaration of Independence, handwritten by Thomas Jefferson. The wait to view to document yesterday was at least 45 minutes and as a lover of paper, ink and handwriting, I was happy that people still queue up — even in the heat and humidity of summer in NYC — to view one of the the most important documents in the history of the United States of America.
So why wait on line to view a manuscript whose text is easily accessible on a smartphone? Because there’s no substitute for seeing ink on paper, ink that is manipulated by instruments (quills in this case) that betray the thoughts, moods, personalities, and physicality of the writers. Were there strikeouts? Ink blots? Was the text penned in uniform lettering? Does the text look rushed? Perhaps most importantly, what did the signatures look like?
I conducted a quick word association with some friends, asking what comes to mind when I say “Declaration of Independence.” More than half mentioned John Hancock, even though he was not the author. Why? Because of the style and size of his signature. For an interesting, in-depth look at the signature that became synonymous with the noun “signature” itself (as in, “write your John Hancock in the space provided”) check out Slate’s article, “Was John Hancock’s Signature Too Big?”
Putting aside the size of Hancock’s signature and focusing more on its style, we must acknowledge that our signatures and indeed, our very day-to-day handwriting, tell a lot about who we are and how we view ourselves in the world. Handwriting analysis is a science and organizations from the FBI to art auction houses rely on expert forensic document examiners to solve crimes, authenticate letters, set values on manuscripts, and more.
My daily handwriting and signature is much different from the carefully crafted calligraphy that I practice as an art form. My handwriting is normally hurried and used for practical uses such as grocery lists, letters to friends, and notes to colleagues. Not sure what my signature says about me, but here it is. It’s very unlike what you see on my page and in my shop!
Wishing everyone a happy Independence Day, and a restful and enjoyable long weekend!
