The Beauty of the Hebrew Letter – From Sacred Scrolls to Graffiti

“Pludwinski takes pains to depict Hebrew lettering as an ever-evolving art form, and his careful descriptions, replete with fascinating technical detail, illuminate the art without being overwhelming. This is a treat for the eyes and mind.” * Publishers Weekly * “A book for font enthusiasts, lovers of Judaica, and those passionate about the minutiae and range of the written form. . . . The Beauty of the Hebrew Letter demonstrates how prolifically [ritual objects] can be multiplied and meaningfully interpreted in the hands of artists throughout the centuries.”  * Hyperallergic * “Pludwinski has an artist’s eyes and the disciplined hands of a master scribe. In this beautiful book he writes from the heart with deep understanding of the techniques and rhythms of traditional and modern Hebrew letterforms and shows us how the aleph-bet continues to evolve, versatile and beautiful, as a vitally expressive contemporary art form.” -- Donald Jackson, Calligrapher “Pludwinski is an artist, an artisan, and a master teacher. His letterforms sing and soar. Were all the skies made of parchment, all the seas overflowing with ink, every reed and quill a pen, and everyone a scribe by trade, I cannot image a better, more accessible, more consummately gorgeous book on Hebrew calligraphy could be created. This work is a gift that deserves to be gifted to all who we love, and to all to whom we wish to introduce the breathtaking beauty of Hebrew script.” -- Marc Michael Epstein, Vassar College “Much has been published on Latin, Chinese, and Arabic calligraphy, but relatively little on beautiful Hebrew writing. This book fills the gap in a most comprehensive way, profusely illustrated with examples from thousands of years ago to the present day, running the gamut from polished, consistent letterforms to wildly abstract expressions of the alphabet – including three-dimensional carved examples and even street graffiti. For an overview of the possibilities for beauty offered by Hebrew letters there is no better resource than this book.” -- Jerry Kelly, award-winning book designer, printer, calligrapher and president of The Typofiles “This magnificent book is a complete joy, uplifting and energizing. It will be a classic.” -- Ewan Clayton, University of Sunderland and The Royal Drawing School