Of all the Blackletter styles, none has left a mark quite like Fraktur. It’s ornate, unmistakably German, and steeped in both artistic achievement and political controversy. For centuries, Fraktur was not just a script — it was the script for the German-speaking world. If you've followed our exploration of Blackletter's many faces — starting with The Bold Beauty of Medieval Script and through styles like Textura, Rotunda, and Schwabacher — then you're ready to meet the style that brought Blackletter into the modern era.
A Style Born of Prestige
Fraktur was developed in the early 16th century under the patronage of Emperor Maximilian I. He commissioned new typefaces for imperial publications, aiming to blend the Gothic tradition with a more elaborate, courtly feel. The result was Fraktur: a script that married the backbone of Blackletter with Renaissance flair. Its name comes from the Latin fractura, meaning “broken,” referring to the sharp angles and disjointed curves that define the style. But Fraktur also introduced flourishes, swashes, and ornamentation that made it visually rich and highly stylized — perfect for royal decrees, literature, and eventually, everyday print.
Defining Characteristics
Fraktur stands apart even within the Blackletter family. Look for:
- Broken curves, especially in lowercase letters like o and d
- Highly decorated capitals, often with dramatic loops and extensions
- Elaborate ligatures, connecting letters with flair
- Mix of vertical and diagonal stress, adding dynamic energy
While Textura feels rigid and Schwabacher friendly, Fraktur is theatrical — a script that performs on the page.
Source: 'Fraktur Mon Amour', Judith Shalanksy
Germany’s National Script
From the 16th to the early 20th century, Fraktur was the dominant script in German-speaking countries. Everything from newspapers and novels to schoolbooks and official documents was printed in Fraktur. It became deeply entwined with national identity — so much so that it was often referred to simply as ‘die deutsche Schrift’ (the German script). For centuries, knowing Fraktur was essential to literacy in Germany. It symbolized continuity, tradition, and cultural pride.
A Complicated History
Ironically, Fraktur’s downfall came not from foreign influence but from within. In 1941, the Nazi regime abruptly banned Fraktur, labeling it “Schwabacher Judenlettern” (Schwabacher Jewish letters) — a wildly inaccurate claim likely rooted in convenience and propaganda. The shift aimed to align with international modernism and make German writing more legible abroad. This sudden rejection, after centuries of use, left Fraktur tainted by association and hastened its decline in everyday life.
Fraktur Today: Revival and Reclamation
In recent decades, Fraktur has experienced a cautious but creative resurgence. Type designers, calligraphers, and artists are reinterpreting the style — either leaning into its expressive potential or subverting its historical baggage. You’ll see Fraktur-inspired type in music branding, beer labels, fashion, and streetwear — anywhere a sense of heritage or drama is called for. Crucially, modern use often strips away the nationalist overtones and reclaims Fraktur as part of a wider, global design language.
Final Thought: Beauty in the Broken
Fraktur is a script of paradoxes: elegant yet sharp, traditional yet rebellious, admired yet misunderstood. Its flourishes carry centuries of meaning, complexity, and craft. To write in Fraktur is to participate in a long and complicated legacy — one that still has something to say.
Want to revisit the roots of Blackletter? Start at the beginning with Textura: The Gothic Grid of Precision, or explore the full series on on our blog.