Clear Shadows (1867)

Silhouette portraits gained popularity in late-nineteenth-century Japan as a form of party entertainment. They started as a simple leisure activity but evolved into more complex publications and commemorations. Clear Shadows, created by artist Ochiai Yoshiiku, is a compilation of silhouette portraits depicting members of the kyōga-awase club. The book includes short biographies, picture riddles, and poems. Women and children were also part of this social network of cultural activities. Silhouette likenesses were often used for memorial purposes, to honor the departed. Silhouettes were considered to be truthful portraits, capturing the essence of individuals.

https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/kumanaki-kage/

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