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Portrait of a Woman before a Window

Attributed to William Henry Brown American
ca. 1850
Not on view
While its subject is unknown, this image has been linked to William Henry Brown, who was among the most prolific silhouette portraitists of the nineteenth century. Brown tended to affix his silhouettes to sepia-toned lithographs that mimicked the look of drawings, as is the case here. Usually made by cutting a profile portrait from black-inked paper, silhouettes were wildly popular throughout the nineteenth century. The democratic nature of the art form can be attributed to the affordability of the materials involved; as scissors, ink, and paper were relatively inexpensive, silhouettes could be commissioned for relatively small sums.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Portrait of a Woman before a Window
  • Artist: Attributed to William Henry Brown (American, Charleston, South Carolina 1808–1883 Charleston, South Carolina)
  • Date: ca. 1850
  • Medium: Cut paper against a lithographic background
  • Dimensions: sheet: 14 1/2 x 12 in. (36.8 x 30.5 cm)
  • Classification: Cut Paper
  • Credit Line: Mary Martin Fund, 1984
  • Object Number: 1984.1101.1
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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Silhouette of a Young Man Before an Open Window, Facing Right, William Henry Brown American, Cut paper against a lithographic background
Silhouette of a Young Man Before an Open Window, Facing Right
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