Silhouette: The Art of the Shadow

Elegant and enigmatic, the silhouette is the simplest of art forms—but that simplicity belies a rich and varied past. In this first major work on the art of the silhouette, art historian Emma Rutherford draws from dozens of American and European sources to create a fascinating history of the art form—and to illuminate the compelling social history hidden behind its shadows.

Emma Rutherford is an art historian who has specialized in silhouettes and portrait miniatures for fifteen years. Formerly a Director of the Silhouettes and Portrait Miniatures Department at Bonhams Auctioneers, she has also worked at the Victoria and Albert Museum and Phillips Auctioneers in London. She lectures and writes frequently on the subject.

Lulu Guinness is a world-renowned designer of accessories with a keen interest in silhouettes. Her handbags are in the permanent collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Museum of the Handbag in Holland, and the Museum of Fine Art in Houston.