Silhouette cutting dates back to the early 1700′s in France, when photography had not been invented and having a portrait painted was something only for the wealthy.  That didn’t mean silhouettes weren’t for the wealthy, though.  As it turns out, Silhouette artists were “must-have” entertainment at dinner parties and special events among royalty and government officials.

Most recently, silhouettes have been making a big comeback in a stylish way. They’ve been popping up on decorating shows, magazines and other blogs, and we’ve been thinking about ways to bring them into our own home. Greg loves quirky historic pieces, and I have an obsession with graphic art prints, so this seems like something that would fit in our home decor lineup pretty well.

There are countless ways to use silhouettes in your home decor.  You can also break out of the silhouette mold with full-length silhouettes, like these from West Elm:

You can also change things up with a splash of color. These Carter Kustera portraits from Jonathan Adler are quirky and whimsical while maintaining a nostalgia for the original concept:

If you’re looking for something that really makes a trendy statement, use graphic patterns in your silhouettes for a unique alternative:

I may or may not try my hand at making a silhouette for my office. I just hope Bentley will stay still long enough!

Images courtesy of Country Living, West Elm and Jonathan Adler.