Creative Endeavors activity this week was Silhouettes. Participating residents provided a profile photo of their subject. No special drawing skills were needed.
The finished silhouettes was mated on suitable paper for framing.
Jean showing a resident how to trace the photo.
Residents enjoyed Creative Endeavors silhouettes activity.
Background history on Silhouettes.
The name Silhouette traces back to the mid-18th century French finance minister, Etienne de Silhouette. Because his name was synonymous with doing things cheaply and because he was fond of making these images himself, this artform was named after him. In America, Silhouettes were highly popular from about 1790 to 1840. Silhouette (profile) portraiture was the popular way to recreate an image of oneself or loved one before the invention and common use of photography in the mid 1800’s. During the years of 1500 and 1860, professional and amateur artists would either paint or cut profiles – using paints or scissors.
500 AD
From Pliny the Elder’s ancient Roman descriptions, the world reads that portraiture may have started as profile images – as the maiden Dibutade captures her love’s image before he departs for war. (Seen here: Regnault’s imagining of this debut of portraiture)
Although the common names are “profile”, “shade”, “shadow portrait” or “likeness”, the familiar word “silhouette” is taken from the French finance minister Etienne de Silhouette in the mid 1700’s, who was rumored to cut profiles in his spare time. He was disliked by those who were affected by his tax plans, chopping tax money from the rich and reducing cost expenditures in the French government. Needless to say, he wasn’t well liked. Some writers explain the phrase “à la silhouette” (in the manner of Silhouette) was applied to things which were cheap, including cheaply-made portraits cost far less than the traditional extravagant painted portraits and sculptures. Anything “à la silhouette” was a reduction to the simplest form.
George Washington’s shadow portrait is shown here – although he was a man who did afford his expensive painted portraits.
By 1880, portraiture was quite affordable to the average person. In the excitement of the new medium of photography, silhouettes slid away. It stayed for a while in rural areas, harvest festivals, amusement resorts, but the decline of silhouettes’ popularity had already begun as a mainstay of daily portraiture.
In the 1920's there seemed to be a resurgence in silhouette interest and also portraiture. No longer a discarded art that was surpassed by fashionable gadgets, silhouettes were appreciated once again. Possibly the renewed interest were part of the Arts and Crafts Movement; at any rate silhouettes gained some fans thanks to some special (and flamboyant) artists.
Fortunately in the 20th century, a few people looked past the silhouettes in attics and museums and continued the art form, as “art” and also as amusements. And that’s what you discover at Silhouettes By Hand – an artisan reminder of history, of romance of slower living, and as reminders of family. You too can have your own silhouette profiles by our very own Creative Endeavors Group!
Learn a skill, meet new people, enjoy different crafts every month!
We prefer to involve to our residents as resource people so, contact Jean Close, jedaclose@yahoo.com if you have a special skill or interest you would like to share with the group. Contact Jean to get on her mailing list to be informed of upcoming activities.
Creative Endeavors meets every Thursday morning from 10am-12pm at the Clubhouse and is open to all FV residents.
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