George Wright 1844

Auguste Edouart made this silhouette of George Wright out of paper with scissors and adhesive, a popular portraiture method of the early 19th century. Its stark contrast emphasizes form and captures a likeness in a graphic, immediate way. Silhouettes were an accessible alternative to painted portraits, and while some artists like Edouart did them freehand, the physiognotrace—a mechanical device that traced a profile—also became popular. This invention democratized image-making for the emerging middle class. The stark black-and-white aesthetic reduces the individual to an outline, subtly hinting at ideas of identity and representation. The relative ease of production meant silhouettes could be made quickly and in multiples, feeding a growing consumer culture where even a common worker like George Wright could have his portrait done. Consider this silhouette not just as an image, but as an artifact of its time—a reflection of changing social structures, and the industrialization of art production.