Graphology
Monkish roots
Monks in the middle Ages also studied how handwriting reveals character, and in 1622 Italian physician Camille Baldo (or Baldi) wrote the first known work on graphology.
It was a 19th-century monk, however, who really put graphology on the map. The term graphology was coined by the Frenchman Abbe Jean-Hippolyte Michon (1806-1881). Michon collected and studied thousands of handwriting samples, eventually publishing an account of his system of analysis.
German influences
Nineteenth-century German graphologists such as Dr. Ludwig Klages (1872-1956) made great advances in the systemization of graphology. Klages created a systematic theory linking handwriting with personality. He established links between graphology and more accepted sciences such as psychology and physiology. Under his influence, graphology made the first steps toward being viewed as a science rather than an art.
Graphology today
Michon and Klages are often seen as the founding fathers of modern graphology, yet there have been many since them who have contributed to this discipline. Today, graphology is often studied in universities and colleges, and is frequently a part of psychology courses.
WHY ANALYZE HANDWRITING?
Why would you want to analyze someone’s handwriting? The answer is that you want to know something about that person’s character – sometimes things that they would not, perhaps, tell you or even be sure of themselves. Graphology can be used as a tool to assess yourself, friends, or even complete strangers.
There are only six recognized versions of Shakespeare signature (above), but many forged ones.
