Silhouette of an unknown young lady 1848

This silhouette of an unknown young lady was created by Peter Skeolan in the 1800s, and is now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The profile view is stark, made of solid black against a pale, neutral background. It's simplicity is arresting, and the shape clearly defined. The power of this artwork lies in its clear binary opposition: figure and ground, light and dark. This visual simplicity invites us to consider the essence of representation. Skeolan uses the silhouette to reduce the individual to a recognizable form. It reflects a structuralist approach, emphasizing how meaning is derived from contrast and relationships. What we recognize in this work is not so much the individual's likeness, but rather the broader codes of portraiture. Consider how the absence of detail prompts us to fill in the blanks, engaging us in a dialogue about identity and representation. This silhouette is not a static image, but rather an active site of interpretation.