Am 19. Februar 2026 war Britt Möricke aus Holland bei uns zu Gast. Es ging um das schöne Thema Handschrift; alles weitere dazu auf Englisch:
Before starting the talk, we had a heerlijke soep (a delicious soup) with our guest from the Netherlands. Britt Möricke teaches in Rotterdam. She shares with us the book Writing & Illuminating & Lettering by Edward Johnston as her hero and main influence, followed by her favourite founain pen shop in The Hague – adding samples from her collection ranging from her most expensive pen (400 €) to her current favourite pens, a BIC (4 €) and a Shaeffer Fountain Pen (5 €). This leads to Britt’s very convincing first claim: for the calmness, which writing provides us with, no expensive equipment is needed. Actually it is super easy to begin with. The technique is just based on the holy trinity of paper, pen, ink – however, the three of which depend on each other (change one, need to change the others as well). In writing itself, the important factors are speed and comfort. Writing slows down everything, Britt knows, it helps us calm our restless minds, it supports us in summarizing, concluding, asking questions, finding answers. And your handwriting, your notes, your notebook maybe, all handwritten items archive these processes. In a handwritten note or letter, for instance, even the crossed-out mistakes are part of the story, of the content.
Britt shows samples of letters where the cross-outs are being integrated in the layout. With her samples, we get to know the handwritings of Dutch type designers-writers like Gerrit Noordzij und his son Peter Matthias Noordzij, and, a little bit more abstract, Britt classifies, handwritten samples by Erik van Blockland, Peter Bil’ak, and others. She detects something typical in, for instance, Dutch handwriting, in German handwriting etc. and we guess it must have to do with how you learn handwriting in school. We also enjoy her showing and reading letters by or to famous people, for example Jack the Ripper to Scotland Yard, or a letter by a kid to president Nixon, or a letter by artist Sol Lewitt to Eva Hesse. We discuss about abolished post boxes and postal services in Denmark. What a pity.
Most importantly, Britt shares with us her handwriting manual and exercise book. We all want to get it. She brought a few samples, adding: I’m bad at marketing, write to me; I want to really put it on the website soon. Questions from the audience lead us to the best left-handed approach to handwriting (turn the page up to 90°) and to beautifully written shopping lists (yes, of course, Britt writes hers like proposed in the manual, why would you write differently?) and recommended paper primer. Long after the talk we continue asking, discussing and practising handwriting with Britt on the presentation table, crowded all evening long. She brought us beautiful little bags with her handwriting on them, stating I cannot draw things except from letters – but this she really can do in the most prolific way. Plus she is super engaged to teach and consult in handwriting whoever wants to learn. Dankje well, dear Britt!
