Silhouetportret van Hendrik Luidwijn van Linden van den Heuvell 1809 - 1848

This silhouette portrait of Hendrik Luidwijn van Linden van den Heuvell was made by Pieter Barbiers the fourth, using cut paper. This was a very popular way of making portraits, as it was a cheap and quick alternative to painting. The way the artist has approached this work, cutting out the portrait from a single sheet of paper, focuses our attention on the contrast between positive and negative space. Notice the crisp edges of the silhouette, giving a sense of precision and control. Yet, within the solid black form, Barbiers has included details of the man's hair and the lapels of his jacket. The silhouette was a way of capturing a likeness without the expense or time of a painted portrait. It democratized the field of portraiture, making it accessible to a wider range of people. This paper silhouette is a reminder of the ingenuity and resourcefulness of artists working within specific social and economic constraints. It challenges the notion that art must be made from precious materials to be meaningful.