Silhouettes
A silhouette is the outline of a person,
usually filled in with solid black.
The History of Silhouettes
• The art of silhouette cutting originated in
Europe in the early 1700’s.
• Prior to the French Revolution, silhouettists
were hired as an amusement for the the royal
class.
• The featured artist would attend extravagant
balls and cut out the distinguished profiles of
the Lords and Ladies capturing the latest
fashions and elaborate wigs.
History con’t
• While the aristocrats were having their
silhouettes cut out and eating like kings much
of Europe was starving, especially in France.
• In the 1760’s the Finance Minister of France,
Etienne de Silhouette, had crippled the French
people with his merciless tax policies.
• Etienne, oblivious to his people’s plight, was
more interested in his hobby of cutting out
paper profiles, the latest fad.
History con’t
• Etienne was so despised by the people of
France that in protest the peasants wore only
black mimicking his black paper cutouts.
• To this very day the black profile cutouts are
called silhouettes.
• Silhouettes predate photographs and were a
way for people to capture a recognizable
likeliness of themselves.
Artists that work in Silhouettes
• Karl Johnson
• Tim Arnold
• Kara Walker
Our Silhouettes
• Our silhouettes are unique to us
• Set us apart from others as individuals with
unique characteristics
What are we going to create?
• Autobiographical Collage Silhouettes with a
common theme
What is a collage?
An artistic composition made of various material
What is a common theme?
A central idea in a piece of artwork
What is the theme of this
silhouette?
In terms of positive and
negative space, which
space do the watches
make up?
What to do to begin…
1. Make a list of things that you identify with in
your sketchbook.
Sports, music, art, literature, fashion, etc.
List as many things that you can think of...
psst it is part of your grade...
From this list,
2. Choose one to be your theme.
You will collect a variety of magazine images to fill your silhouette.
How you will be graded:
Good work habits
Specific theme to fill in your silhouette
Silhouette that resembles you
Neatness and clarity
Variety within objects to add interest (size, color, etc…not variety in
what the actual object is)
Homework: Collect images from home sources