The Silhouette portrait is a two-dimensional image of a person, usually in profile, created with black paper or cardstock. The image is cut out of the paper or cardstock and mounted against a contrasting background. It was invented during the 1700s by Etienne de Silhouette, a French finance minister.
The Silhouette portrait was popularized in Europe during the late 1700s by French painter Auguste Edouart. He perfected the technique of cutting Silhouettes from black cardstock and mounting them on white paper. He was able to create accurate likenesses of his subjects with very few strokes of his scissors.
Silhouettes were very popular during the Victorian era and were used for everything from cards to wall decorations. They could be cut out of leather or fabric as well as paper. Professional Silhouette artists would travel from town to town creating portraits for their clients.
Today, Silhouettes are still popular although they are often made with modern materials such as vinyl. The Silhouettes can also be created digitally using software such as Adobe Photoshop. There are many companies that specialize in creating custom Silhouette portraits for individuals and families.
Conclusion:
Who invented the Silhouette portrait? Etienne de Silhouette, a French finance minister, is credited with inventing this two-dimensional image art form during the 1700s.
Auguste Edouart then perfected the technique of cutting Silhouettes from black cardstock and mounting them on white paper in Europe during the late 1700s making it popular among art lovers. Today, it is still widely used with modern materials such as vinyl and digital software like Adobe Photoshop to create custom Silhouette portraits for individuals and families alike!