Johann Gesnfleich Zum Gutenberg is widely regarded as the "creator" of moveable-type printing press amongst Europe (although there is recent evidence that moveable-type originated centuries further in Asia). His legacy is still prominent to this day, with his famous 42-lined Bible probably able to fetch a staggering $100 million, and a mere leaf page at the value of $100,000. I thought that was insane, and really made me realize how rare and revered this man's work was and how his historical invention and passion for print really impacted all of us.
He was raised from a relatively wealthy background, but near the end of his life he was poor, having had dedicated his life to his work. As I was reading about his experiences and hard work in the textbook, I was suddenly shocked when I realized he was stripped away of his laborous efforts by his loaner/benefactor, Johann Fust. (Is it weird that their names are the same? I think so) Luckily, history has been able to credit Gutenberg as the original creator of the first book, but Fust, along with his accomplice, were the ones who happened to profit from the production of Gutenberg's work, while Gutenberg himself drifted off into poverty for a long time before given his rightful title/credit.
Perhaps it's just my opinion, but I really felt like Fust was the epitome of a loan shark. Unfortunately, sources mention that his family was able to thrive for many generations, so I'm not sure if karma was ever handed to this man. Nevertheless, I felt that Fust lended money to Gutenberg and sued him TOO coincidentally, right at the eve of Gutenberg's completion of the Bible. He probably had an ulterior motive, then, when he agreed to allowing Gutenberg to borrow money.
At a young age Gutenberg was able to have access to the latest manuscripts that were done with block-printing. Mesmerized by this style, Gutenberg set out to create and improve the style, along with a way to spread it to the masses. He worked diligently and created printing presses, improving the wood-block to a more metal-type substance and designing methods in typography and how the structure of each page would be perceived. Gutenberg was a very hard-working man, and his foundation and creation of the first book was a cultivation of work throughout many years, along with the investment of a lot of money and the sacrifice of his wealthy lifestyle.
Unfortunately, he was taken advantage of by Fust, who ended up finishing up what was left of his work and using it to propel mass profit. Optimistically-speaking, his work WAS able to get out, and became a monumental invention, and Gutenberg was eventually credited for his work by society. Today his legacy is still prominent in his city of Mainz. Museums have even been created in his honor. I suppose, similar to how great artists are only celebrated after their death, Gutenberg was a tragic artist of printing.
Sources:
Meggs, Phillip B., and Alsto W. Purvis. Meggs History of Graphic Design. 5th. New Jersy: John Wiley, 2012. 72-80. eBook.
http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/gutenberg.html
http://www.gutenberg-museum.de/index.php?id=29&L=1
http://www.mrdowling.com/704-gutenberg.html
http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/landprint/gutenberg/index.html
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