Where Did the Name Silhouette Come From?

The origins of the word Silhouette are steeped in mystery. In the early 18th century, an unknown French artist and engraver named Étienne de Silhouette began creating cut-out profile portraits.

These were inexpensive to make and popular with the middle class, who could not afford the more expensive portraits by professional artists. It was this popularity which led to his name becoming associated with the art form.

Étienne de Silhouette was born in 1709 and served as Controller General of Finances under Louis XV, though he was removed from his post in 1759 during a period of financial austerity. During his time in office, he was known for being frugal with public funds and this led to his name becoming a synonym for cheapness.

The term Silhouette is believed to have been coined by Horace Walpole, an English writer and politician who is credited with inventing the gothic novel genre. He wrote a letter in 1770 where he mentioned Étienne de Silhouette’s hobby of creating profile portraits, referring to them as “shades or shadows” (Silhouettes).

Silhouettes were popular throughout Europe until photography became widespread in the mid-19th century.

Since then, Silhouettes have been used for artistic purposes such as shadow theater and papercutting. The art form has also found its way into contemporary culture through popular films such as The Lion King and Wall-E which feature Silhouette animation sequences.

Conclusion:

The term Silhouette originated from Étienne de Silhouette, an 18th century French artist who created popular profile portraits during a period of economic austerity. This art form became widely known throughout Europe before photography replaced it in the mid-19th century. Today, Silhouettes are still used for artistic purposes such as shadow theater and papercutting and can be seen in many films.