Figure 1.--This silhoutte was signed and dated 1931. Notice the boy's destibctive collar, a popular style in the 1920s and 30s.

While silhouettes were done in the early 19th century, they never exceeded the popularity of the late 18th century. The silhouette by the late 19th century was no longer a high art from. It was very popular with Victorian and Eduardian parents to have silhouette done of their childern. Silhouttes in the late 19th century were not limited to children, but they were the most popular subjects. They were also done in the 20th century, especially the early 20th century. A HBC reader recalls them in the 1930s. I'm not precisely sure where they were done, but now that some down town department stores had a place where they were done. It was often located next to the photographic department. A reader writes, "Many years ago when shopping in a famous retail store in downtown St. Louis I stopped at a small display of curtains and chairs and watched in awe as a small Southeast Asian gentleman took a pair of tiny scissors and while standing and observing his subject he neatly and quickly snipped a piece of thin black paper and swiftly created a creditable silhouette of a young girl with bobbed hair. That was a skill that has long mystified me." Another reader writes, "My mom in the 1940s had one done of me, but sadly I do not recall the experience." The silhouette is now little seen, perhaps a casualty of the camera and video camera. Today the few remaining silhouettists might be found at craft fairs and a variety of special events.

Chronology

We have begun to collect some silhouette portrits. Of course they are not as detailed as a portrait, but they still provide some interesting details.

THe 18th Century

While silhouettes were done in the early 19th century, they never exceeded the popularity of the late 18th century. Unfortunately we do not yet have any 18th cedntury examples.

The 19th Century

We note a charming silhouette of Thomas Hardwick done in the United States about 1840. The silhouette by the late 19th century was no longer a high art from. It was very popular with Victorian and Eduardian parents to have silhouette done of their childern. Silhouttes in the late 19th century were not limited to children, but they were the most popular subjects.

The 20th Century

They were also done in the 20th century, especially the early 20th century. We note Master Jack probably about 1905. A HBC reader recalls them in the 1930s. A reader writes, "Many years ago when shopping in a famous retail store in downtown St. Louis I stopped at a small display of curtains and chairs and watched in awe as a small Southeast Asian gentleman took a pair of tiny scissors and while standing and observing his subject he neatly and quickly snipped a piece of thin black paper and swiftly created a creditable silhouette of a young girl with bobbed hair. That was a skill that has long mystified me." Today the few remaining silhouettists might be found at craft fairs and a variety of special events. Here we note one done in 1931 (figure 1). The silhouette is now little seen, perhaps a casualty of the camera and video camera. Another reader writes, "My mom in the 1940s had one done of me, but sadly I do not recall the experience." I plan to eventually load the copy.

Location

I'm not precisely sure where they were done, but now that some down town department stores had a place where they were done. It was often located next to the photographic department.

Created: 6:24 AM 1/13/2005
Last updated: 8:38 PM 12/19/2005