Silhouet-portretje van Maria Müller met opgestoken vlecht, naar rechts - S. Wiedmer

A nineteenth-century silhouette portrait of Maria Müller, dated 1853, featuring delicate ink work and a subtle touch of pink watercolour.

This silhouette portrait by S. Wiedmer depicts Maria Müller in profile, facing right. The work, dated 24 April 1853, captures the sitter with her hair styled in an updo, featuring a braided detail. The silhouette is rendered in solid black ink, providing a stark contrast against the plain paper background. A notable detail is the addition of a pale pink necktie or collar accessory, which introduces a subtle touch of colour to the monochrome composition.

Silhouette portraiture gained popularity in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries as an accessible method for capturing a likeness. Artists often used a pantograph or traced the shadow cast by a candle to achieve the outline before filling the interior with pigment. This specific example includes handwritten script at the base, identifying the subject and the date of creation. The precision of the cut or painted edge defines the facial features, such as the nose and chin, while the clothing is suggested through the shape of the ink block.

S. Wiedmer demonstrates a clear focus on the profile, which was the standard convention for this genre. The inclusion of the braid and the specific neck accessory suggests a desire to record the personal style of the sitter. The paper shows signs of age, with slight discolouration around the edges, which is common for works of this period. This piece offers a glimpse into the domestic portrait traditions of the mid-nineteenth century, where such small-scale works were often kept in albums or framed for private display. The work remains a direct record of an individual, preserved through the medium of the silhouette.