Silhouettes became popular in the 19th century, when artists (and non-artists, too) began painting profiles in black or cutting figures out of black paper. Mysteriously compelling, this art form from an older world is experiencing a comeback—think Béatrice Coron, James Prosek, Kara Walker. In this themed exhibition, the genre’s greats—among them Augustin Edouart, Charles Willson Peale, and Hans Christian Andersen—are showcased alongside recent work. —E.C.

In Profile: A Look at Silhouettes
New-York Historical Society Museum and Library
170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, USA
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