FOR THE GIRLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 146, 22 June 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

FOR THE GIRLS.

THE CHARM OF SILHOUETTES, SELINA'S PICTURE.

My Dear Girls, — Are you fortunate enough to have in your home one of those quaint little silhouette portraits of great grandmama? If you have, bring it out from oblivion, ask mother for it, frame it in a black wooden frame, uj hang it in your bedroom. You will have what lots of your school friends would give their pretty ears to possess. Nowadays collectors are turning their attention to these dainty mementos of the days before the camera caused the art of the silhouette cutter to fall into disuse. No one can deny the old-world charm of thes* queer little black portraits. They were not always cut out of black paper, and many are to be found which are really paintings in black, the hair, and dress being lightened with colour. I possess one of a demure young miss, which I am very proud of. It is done in Indian ink. Such a plump, proper darling she looks. She is Great Aunt Selina. lam devoted to her picture, it keeps me in my place when the pleasures of a gay world tempt hie to be too frivolous. One glance at her funny sausage-like curls, which she appears to shako reproachfully at me, and I laugh and say aloud, "Very well, Selina, you droll darling, I won't." Yet at times Great Aunt Selina looks quite merry, and sometimes, when I am putting on my very prettiest frock to go to * party, I vow I see her winking at me. Yes, winking, for she has very long eyelashes, which the artist has caught beautifully. Then a small sigh seems to escape from the frame, and a tiny breath like the scent of last year's roses murmurs, "If I'd only had my chance like you?" "It was too bad," I answer, and, for fun, I drop a curtsey to her, "bu| Selina, I'm afraid you were rather a baggage after all!" And there is no doubt that dear Selina'* portrait was the forerunner of the photograph and snapshot, and the silhouette artist found many clients in the best families in tKe land. One famous black paper artist named Agustin Edouart, from 1789 to 1861, cut over 100,000. His pictures, were usually, full length, as it was his idea that attitude of a person was just as important as the face. To-day, perhaps just for the novelty, the silhouette portrait has been revived, and several of my friends when travelling kbroad have brought back with them Jt * their portraits done in this charm- k # ing old world way, and I have 71 J 0 often thought what a delightful and amusing hobby it would be for girls to take up to-day.