# What is this talent called? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 7, 2015, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-talent-called/733871 "2015-10-07T22:19:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MizQuirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@MizQuirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizQuirk)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-talent-called/733871/1 "2015-10-07T22:19:47Z")
When my first two children were five and three, I took them to a woman artist who sat them down in front of her and within about 15 minutes had, with a tiny pair of scissors, cut out their profiles (from their shoulders up) from black construction paper, fastened them on white paper, installed this in a frame (about 4" x 6"), and sent us on our way. The profiles were rendered perfectly and they keep seeming even more gorgeous over the years. I’m sure that lady’s talent was heaven-sent, but does anyone know what it is called? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-talent-called/733871/2 "2015-10-07T22:24:42Z")
[SIlhouette](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silhouette)? > [@](#): > > Cutting portraits, generally in profile, from black card became popular in the mid-18th century, though the term silhouette was seldom used until the early decades of the 19th century, and the tradition has continued under this name into the 21st century. They represented a cheap but effective alternative to the portrait miniature, and skilled specialist artists could cut a high-quality bust portrait, by far the most common style, in a matter of minutes, working purely by eye. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-talent-called/733871/3 "2015-10-07T22:25:22Z")
The piece of art itself is called a silhouette. I don’t know if the act of making one has its own name. ETA: Darn you, **Thudlow**! _shakes tiny fist_ ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-talent-called/733871/4 "2015-10-07T22:54:11Z")
Here’s a [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WCLnZmrtxY) of a woman cutting one out in about 2 minutes. It’s impressive. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-talent-called/733871/5 "2015-10-07T23:52:33Z")
You need good hand-eye coordination to produce a frameable silhouette. ---
**Author:** ![MizQuirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@MizQuirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizQuirk)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-talent-called/733871/6 "2015-10-09T01:55:03Z")
Many thanks to all of you. I learned some pretty good stuff here! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-talent-called/733871/7 "2015-10-09T02:50:09Z")
In Montmartre in Paris, there are dozens of these, making a silhouette in about two minutes and selling them to tourists. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-talent-called/733871/8 "2015-10-09T12:25:40Z")
You mean they just do it by looking and cutting? I feel like I’ve seen it being done with a light where they trace the person’s profile, but just freehand? Wow, that is impressive. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-talent-called/733871/9 "2015-10-09T12:39:03Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > The piece of art itself is called a silhouette. I don’t know if the act of making one has its own name. Since a silhouette artist is a “profilist,” I’d assume it’s “profilism.” The same would go for the art or skill itself.