Serif Normal Esbi 2 is a regular weight, normal width, very high contrast, italic, normal x-height font.
Keywords: book titling, editorial, fashion, invitations, quotations, elegant, literary, classic, refined, dramatic, formal elegance, editorial voice, classic italic, display refinement, calligraphic texture, calligraphic, bracketed, hairline, sheared, high-waist.
This is a high-contrast italic serif with sharply tapered hairlines and weight concentrated on the main downstrokes. The forms are strongly sheared with a smooth, calligraphic flow, and serifs are delicate and bracketed, often resolving into fine, pointed terminals. Uppercase proportions feel slightly condensed and stately, while the lowercase shows lively, cursive-like joins and pronounced entry/exit strokes. Numerals follow the same italic rhythm, mixing crisp angles with rounded bowls and thin connecting strokes for a cohesive, dressy texture in text.
Well suited to editorial display and book or magazine typography where italic emphasis is meant to be a stylistic feature rather than a secondary companion. It fits fashion and cultural branding, refined packaging, and formal invitations, and it also works nicely for pull quotes, chapter openers, and other highlighted text elements.
The overall tone is elegant and literary, with a poised, old-world sophistication. Its dramatic contrast and sweeping italic motion suggest formality and a sense of crafted refinement rather than utilitarian neutrality. The texture reads as polished and expressive, suited to settings where a graceful voice is desired.
The design intention appears to be a conventional, high-style italic serif that delivers a traditional, cultivated voice with pronounced calligraphic energy. It prioritizes elegance and typographic color through extreme contrast and finely finished terminals, aiming for expressive readability in display and premium text applications.
The italic construction creates a pronounced forward momentum, with many letters featuring curved, teardrop-like terminals and fine cross-strokes that add sparkle at larger sizes. In running text the contrast produces a shimmering rhythm, while the more delicate hairlines imply best results when given sufficient size and reproduction quality.