Originally called "profiles" or "shades", silhouettes have been a form of portrait making since the 18th century.
They represented a more affordable alternative to the portrait miniature. Skilled specialist artists could cut a high quality bust portrait in a matter of minutes, working purely by eye. In America, silhouettes were highly popular from about 1790 to 1840. The invention of the camera signaled the end of the silhouette as a widespread form of portraiture. The popularity of the silhouette portrait is being reborn in a new generation of people who appreciate the silhouette as a nostalgic way of capturing a significant occasion.
Let's visit the original artistry and see how it has evolved during the centuries to a decorative form of art now in many design areas.
An older silhouette of a boy playing his drum.
Later, scenes became very popular.
Here silhouettes appearing as cameos
on the wall in a contemporary setting.
A subtle wallpaper in a tranquil bedroom.
Same fabric with a more dramatic feel.
Chinoiserie fabric on a comfortable wing chair in a cozy nook.
Silhouettes of animals against a lovely blue background.
Can you guess who is on this plate?
Jane Austen
Silhouettes are popular on just about everything now!
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