As any typeface, the Arabe maghrébin is a child of its time and has to be seen and assessed in light of its historic context. Cut, cast and used throughout the second half of the 19th century it reflects the geopolitical situation of the period in Europe and France.

In June 1830 the French army invaded Algeria. The often bloody and merciless conquest was followed by an explicit colonisation policy. Large numbers of colonists followed on the heel of the soldiers and settled the land that was emptied of its inhabitants. By 1848 most of northern Algeria was controlled by the French and with the newly drafted constitution the former colony was declared an integral part of France.

It was around that year that Marcellin Legrand cut the first size of his Arabe maghrébin. Given the context, this undertaking can hardly be a coincidence.

Background image is in the public domain, taken from Wikipedia.

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