Silhouet van Madame Eugène de Block-Looz 1852

This silhouette of Madame Eugène de Block-Looz was made in Brussels in 1852 by the sculptor Charles Auguste Fraikin. Using just black paper against a pale background, Fraikin captures Madame de Block-Looz's profile with striking clarity. Notice how the artist has taken a material that is associated with everyday life, and produced what we might consider a fine art object. This work prompts us to consider the labor involved in the act of cutting. Despite being an apparently 'easy' method, the skill lies in the control of the hand, eye, and blade. Consider too the social context of the silhouette. In the 19th century, such portraits were a popular and affordable alternative to painted miniatures, making them more accessible across different social classes. This silhouette embodies a tension between the preciousness of fine art and the accessibility of craft, inviting us to reconsider the value we place on different forms of artistic expression.