Instant Portraiture in 1854
@owlwings (43915)
Cambridge, England
February 28, 2017 4:48am CST
I know very little about my Great Grandfather, John Henry Todman, but I have this rather charming silhouette portrait which was made in 1854 when he was 14.
I have been told that silhouettes like this were often made by pavement artists in seaside resorts and that they were made entirely by eye and just with black paper and scissors - no preliminary drawing. I can only admire the skill and accuracy which must be involved in doing this!
Master Todman is obviously dressed in his best clothes. The tall cap was a common attire for students of the day and the wide white collar was starched and, doubtless, rather uncomfortable. I imagine him being asked to sit quite still for quarter of an hour or so in the artist's booth while the busy and expert fingers snipped the paper and finally produced the finished silhouette mounted on white.
Have you seen - or perhaps you possess - work like this? It must have been the nearest one could come to 'instant photography' in 1854!
19 people like this
16 responses
@shaggin (71655)
• United States
1 Mar 17
I came here after seeing your post mentioned by @JudyEV. This is amazing that something so old is still in such good shape. The way I saw silhouettes done was by someone sitting in front of a wall and a flashlight being shined into a paper against a wall and the person's profile in shadow was traced and cut out.
2 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
2 Mar 17
@shaggin That sounds a brilliant idea! Of course, these days, with instant photography, it's easier to deal with little ones not sitting still. Just have them sit against a white background with their face unlit and take a photo which you can then print and use as a pattern.
@Chantiele (433)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
31 Oct 17
I have seen many of these types of things but I do not own one. I think that they are elegant and really different from the art sold today.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325300)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Feb 17
Your silhouette is very interesting. In 2015 we attended the wedding of our nephew in Surrey and a 'roving artist' was doing these on the spot. He took only a very few minutes to do each one. It's probably good for a 'discussion'.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (158680)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Mar 17
I have heard about these silhouettes too. Nice one of your relative. This reminds me of a calendar my grandfather brought home once. It had the silhouette of a lady on it and when you lifted that the lady didn't have many clothes on. Grandma was not happy about this addition to wall decor in the house.
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
28 Feb 17
That is why I don't see these anymore. Yes, I have one of myself from when I was a little girl. I don't remember how it was done, and I hope I can find it to share.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
18 Mar 17
That is really nice to have. No, we don't have anything like that in our collection. We do have old photos, many of which are not marked. Terrible that we don't know who most of these people are, yet we are keeping the photos.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
28 Feb 17
Never seen it, love it though, wish I had some for the walls!
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
28 Feb 17
I don't own any but i love this and have seen them before, You have a treasure, Your great grandfather left a gift for you! Its beautiful.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
28 Feb 17
It must have been amazing back then to hold your likeness in your hands! We are terribly spoilt with all the cameras these days.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
16 Mar 17
That is a work of art.
Yes, a family friend who had gone on a holiday to France came back with a rather charming silhouette portrait of her and her husband.
I wish I could have one too
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16517)
• China
28 Feb 17
How precious the picture of your Great Grandfather in silhouette is ! Many years ago ,I saw a pavement artist who did it .I did admire the artist the way he profiled a person with a few of snips,which was strikingly true to life.
