Silhouette
Handsome Little Boy
.....Marvelous Painted Frame   

New England, ca. 1810-1830.

Silhouettes or children, especially young ones, are much less common than that of adults. This little boy, whose name appears to be “Daniel”, perhaps of 2 or 3 years old, is expertly hollow-cut in paper with a black-cloth backing by an accomplished silhouette artist. Particularly engaging is the crisply cut, sawtooth-like edging at the neck and shoulders, suggesting a ruffled collar. Also note his chubby baby double-chin. The artist is unidentified, yet research of the shape of the boy and his collar, combined with the inscriptions on the paper, may yield an attribution.

The silhouette is presented in a terrific vernacular, likely original pine frame, retaining a dry, rich green-painted surface. Wooden-pegged mortice and tenon joinery, chamfered edges, wooden backboard, and untouched character provide an unusually strong setting for this intimate portrait of childhood. Silhouettes were a means, pre-photography, to capture and share memories of family and friends over distance and over time.

Frame size about 5 ½ inches x 4 7/8. From a private New York State collection.