Silhouettes

Silhouettes are two-dimensional representations that depict the external contour of an object as a solid shape against a lighter background. The interior is featureless, or contains only minimal texture, and the form is usually rendered in a single color, most often black. The effect highlights outline, proportion, and silhouette rather than internal detail.

Origin: The term comes from silhouette, named after Étienne de Silhouette, an 18th-century French official associated with economical profile portraits. Before photography, silhouettes were made by cutting a profile from black paper and mounting it on a light ground, a popular and affordable alternative to painted miniatures.

In modern practice, silhouettes can be produced by backlighting a subject, exposing for the bright background so the subject appears as a dark shape; they may also be created in drawing and painting by omitting internal shading. Photographers and designers manipulate edge clarity, background color, and scale to control legibility and mood.

Uses include portraiture, art, design, cinema, and fashion. In fashion, silhouette refers to the overall shape of clothing (for example, A-line, sheath, or empire waist). In branding and cinema, silhouettes provide quick recognition, convey mood, and can anonymize subjects by reducing detail.