silhouetti

Silhouetti is a term used in some languages to refer to silhouettes, the two‑dimensional outlines of objects. A silhouette typically presents the outer contour of a subject filled with a single color, most commonly black, while omitting interior details. This emphasis on shape and mass makes the form immediately readable, even at a distance or in reduced size.

The concept originated in Europe in the 18th century as an affordable alternative to painted portraits. The name is widely linked to Étienne de Silhouette, a French minister associated with frugal fiscal policies, and the term soon described inexpensive profile portraits cut from paper or drawn with solid shading. Silhouette work spread beyond portraiture to silhouettes used in decorative arts, theater, and illustration, and it predated photography as a popular means of quick visual communication.

Common techniques include cut-paper silhouettes, where shapes are excised from black paper and mounted against a light background; line drawings or vector illustrations that create solid shapes; and photography or cinematography that uses backlighting to render a subject as a dark outline. In modern practice, silhouettes appear in graphic design, branding, fashion, and fine art, valued for their clarity, anonymity, and emphasis on form rather than detail.

In fashion and art, the term silhouette also describes the overall shape or outline of a garment, figure, or composition. Contemporary artists, designers, and photographers continue to explore silhouette as a fundamental element of visual communication, ensuring its enduring relevance across media.