A nearly lost art form from the 1700s, Hand Cut Silhouettes, now making a comback in the 21st century! Started as a popular alternative to expensive commissioned oil portraits in the 1700s, the art of silhouette cutting pre-dates photography by about 100 years, and is considered a precursor to the modern-day portrait photograph. Done exclusively with scissors without the air of pen ink, or tracing, it became a popular way of capturing an individual's likenesses, as well as a practical way of keeping family records. Although regaining popularity, this precious artform is still hard to find, only a handful of artists in the world still practice it today in its original, purest form. The finished piece is mounted on 5 x 7 card stock.