Couteau
TYPE BY · Pierre Pané-Farré · 2012
A single-weight display serif by Pierre Pané-Farré inspired by knife- and chisel-cut letterforms, released as part of TYPE BY's Stencil Fonts Series in 2012.
About
Drawing on the tradition of cut lettering, Couteau pairs long sweeping curves with sharp angular serifs in a slanted roman frame that gives the face a dynamic, forward-leaning quality. It shares its lineage with Berthold Wolpe's Albertus, itself rooted in chisel-cut bronze lettering, though Couteau pursues a more assertive and direct character suited to display settings. Released in a single Normal weight alongside Orly Stencil, it was developed to accompany an exhibition on stencil letters curated by Eric Kindel and Fred Smeijers in Antwerp.
Classification
Couteau features sharp angular serifs and brisk curves derived from knife- and chisel-cut lettering, placing it firmly in the display category. Its stencil-influenced construction and slanted roman frame make it unsuitable for text use.