Silhouette of Miss Roxanna G. Smith, 19, North Bangor, Maine 1850

Galen Jerome Brewer made this silhouette of Miss Roxanna G. Smith of North Bangor, Maine, around 1840. Silhouettes like these offered a cost-effective alternative to painted portraits in the 19th century United States. Consider what this image tells us about the social values of its time. The silhouette, with its emphasis on refined profile and delicate features, reflects an ideal of feminine beauty. The subject's neat hairstyle and simple dress suggest modesty and restraint, qualities highly valued in women of the era. The creation of silhouettes like these can be viewed as a democratization of portraiture. They made it possible for a broader segment of the population to participate in the cultural practice of image-making. To understand this work fully, historians can use a variety of resources. Census records, local histories, and genealogical databases can help us learn more about Roxanna Smith and her place in her community. Examination of etiquette manuals and fashion plates of the time can further reveal how the silhouette reflects and reinforces contemporary ideals.