Silhouettes

The word "silhouette" derives from the name of Étienne de Silhouette, a French finance minister who, in 1759, was forced by France's credit crisis during the Seven Years War to impose severe economic demands upon the French people, particularly the wealthy. Because of de Silhouette's austere economies, his name became synonymous with anything done or made cheaply and so with these outline portraits. Prior to the advent of photography, silhouette profiles cut from black card were the cheapest way of recording a person's appearance.

August Edouart was one of the most famous silhouette artists of the 18th century. He cut thousands of portraits in duplicate and his subjects included French and British nobility and US presidents. Much of his personal collection was lost in a shipwreck.