Silhouette, derived from the French word ‘silhouette’, is a two-dimensional representation of an object, most commonly a person or animal, in a profile view. It is usually created by cutting out the shape from a single piece of paper or other material. Silhouettes have been used for centuries to represent people and animals in art, design and even on coins.
The use of Silhouettes dates back to the 18th century when they were used as portrait illustrations. In those days, artists would cut out profiles of famous people and display them on walls and furniture. Today, Silhouettes are still popular in art, especially as backgrounds for photographs or as objects to be displayed on the walls of homes or offices.
They are also often used in advertising campaigns to create an instantly recognizable image that stands out from other images.
Silhouette art has become increasingly popular over the past few years due to its versatility and ability to capture a moment or emotion in one simple image. Silhouettes can be used to convey feelings of loneliness, happiness, love and even sadness with just one picture. They can also be used to add an air of mystery or intrigue to a photograph by obscuring some features while still highlighting others.
A name for Silhouette is often debated between ‘shadow’ and ‘silhouette’ depending on its purpose – either as an artistic expression or simply as a two dimensional representation of an object. While both terms are often interchangeable when referring to Silhouettes, it is generally accepted that ‘shadow’ implies more movement whereas ‘silhouette’ implies more definition and structure which makes it more suited for design purposes such as logos or branding.
Conclusion:
No matter what you call it – shadow or Silhouette – it remains one of the most versatile forms of art that can be used to express feelings, evoke emotion or create intrigue with just one simple image.