Papercutting

"Paper lace" redirects here. For the English pop group, seePaper Lace.

For the injury, seePaper cut.

Paper-cut with stupa. One of the earliest known papercuts, this specimen was recovered byPaul Pelliotin theDunhuang grottoand is dated to the tenth century.Bibliothèque nationale de France

Chinese paper cuttings(2014)

Papercuttingorpaper cuttingis theartofpaperdesigns. Art has evolved all over the world to adapt to different cultural styles. One traditional distinction most styles share is that the designs are cut from a single sheet of paper as opposed to multiple adjoining sheets as incollage.

History

AsilhouetteofGoethe(1778)

Paper cut art appeared during the Jin dynasty in 4th century AD after the Chinese official, Cai Lun invented paper in 105 AD.The oldest surviving paper cut out is a symmetrical circle from the 6th-centurySix Dynastiesperiod found inXin gian gChina.Papercutting continued to be practiced during theSongandTang dynastiesas a popular form of decorative art.

By the eighth or ninth century papercutting appeared in West Asia and in Turkey in the 16th century. The knowledge ofpapermakingdid not reach Europe until the 13th century so papercutting could only have arrived after that. In Switzerland and Germany for example it was not until the 16th century that papercut art orscherenschnittewas established (see alsosilhouette).

Chinese

Main article:Chinese paper cutting

Chinese paper cutting,in a style that is practically identical to the original 6th-century form

Jianzhi( cắt giấy ) is a traditional style of papercutting inChina,and it originated from cutting patterns for rich Chinese embroideries and later developed into a folk art in itself.Jianzhihas been practised in China since at least the 6th century AD.Jianzhihas a number of distinct uses in Chinese culture, almost all of which are for health, prosperity or decorative purposes. Red is the most commonly used colour.Jianzhicuttings often have a heavy emphasis onChinese characterssymbolizing theChinese zodiacanimals. It is included in theUNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists,which was created in 2009.The Chinese papercutting was recognized and listed because it has a history of more than 1500 years, and it represents cultural values of the people throughout China.

Modern paper cutting has developed into a commercial industry. Papercutting remains popular in contemporary China, especially during special events like theChinese New Yearor weddings.

Japanese

Japanese paper cutting is calledkirieorkirigami(literally meaning cut picture). It is said to have developed after 610 AD whentesuki washipaper, invented in China, was brought to Japan by Doncho, a Buddhist monk from Korea. The Japanese commercialised paper making by hand, and by 800 AD their skills were renowned.The abundance of Japanese washi meant paper cutting and offshoots such askamikiri(performance papercutting in Edo Japan) developed at a very fast pace.

Thewashipaper used most predominantly across the world today for paper cutting, bookbinding, tapes and multiple other uses is nottesuki washibut actually JapaneseSekishu washi,a paper developed around 800 AD in the Sekishu region (modern-day Iwami in Japan)and designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural asset in 2009.Paper cutting continues today in Japan in contemporary forms such as framed art, installations andpaper cut sculpture.

Indonesian

Indonesian traditional art has been influenced by traditional Chinese artisans.Batikis an Indonesian traditional art and paper cutting.Batikis framed in profile to highlight its intricate detail.

Filipino

Several Philippine crafts employ paper cutting. DuringFilipino Christmas,theparol(a traditional star-shapedlantern) is embellished with coloured paper cut into various forms such as floral designs on the faces,pom-ponsand "tails" on the points of the star.

There is also the art ofpabalát(wrapper), where coloured paper is meticulously cut with small scissors and used to sheathepastillas de leche(carabaomilk candy) and other traditional sweets. Paper cutting is also involved in the creation ofbanderitas(bunting) that feature prominently infiestadécor; these may be elaborate or plain-cut paper squares and triangles strung over streets.

Jewish

Main article:Jewish paper cutting

Mizrahpapercut,Eastern Europe,19th century

Papercutting has been a common Jewish art form since the Middle Ages, connected with various customs and ceremonies, and associated with holidays and family life. Paper cuts often decoratedketubot(marriage contracts),mizrahs,and for ornaments on festive occasions. A story tells of Rabbi Shem-Tov ben Yitzhak ben Ardutiel, finding that his ink had frozen, continued to write the manuscript by cutting the letters into the paper. By about the 17th century, papercutting had become a popular form for small religious artifacts such asmizrachsandShavuotdecorations. In the 20th century, the art of Jewish papercutting was revived in Israel. Today it is most commonly used formizrachsandketubot.

Mexican

Papel picadois theMexicanart of paper cutting. Tissue paper is cut into intricate designs with scissors or small, sharp chisels; this technique is frequently used to produce decorative banners.

Slavic

The Slavic version of the art form of papercutting, popular in Belarus, Poland, and Ukraine, is called Wycinanki ([vɨt͡ɕiˈnaŋkʲi]) in Poland or Vytynanky (Витина́нки) in Ukraine or Vycinanki (Выцінанкі) in Belarus. Roosters, flowers, and holiday motifs are frequently the subject matter of these bright and multilayered artworks.

Swedish

During Christmas, flowers of cut and manipulated paper, fringed candy holders called crackers,andljuskronawhich are covered with cut paper are often found in Swedish and Swedish-American homes.

Switzerland

Dairy farming and cheesemaking traditionsrepresented with paper-cutting technique (1867)

There is a Swiss tradition of papercutting, especially in thePays-d'Enhaut.

Other

Silhouettecan refer to the art of cutting outlines or portraits out of black paper. Modern-day papercutters typically follow one or more of the "traditional" styles listed above, while others have begun to expand the art into new styles, motifs, and designs. Contemporary papercutting is also sometimes associated with the art of stenciling, itself being derived from techniques used ingraffitiart. The use of hand-cut stencils in graffiti art has received international attention in recent years due in part to the artistBanksy.

Notable papercut artists

• Joanna Koerten(1650–1715) Dutch silhouette artist
• Adele Schopenhauer(1797–1849), German author, artist, and sister of the philosopherArthur Schopenhauer
• Hans Christian Andersen(1805–1875), Danish story-teller, author, and papercut artist
• Henri Matisse(1869–1954), French painter, who explored paper-cut illustration and decoupage
• Jan Pieńkowski(1936–2022) Polish illustrator, writer and designer of children's books using silhouettes
• Lotte Reiniger(1899–1981), German silhouette animation filmmaker
• Barbara Earl Thomas(b. 1948), American visual artist, writer, and arts administrator based in Seattle
• Carmen Lomas Garza(born 1948), Chicanapapel picadoartist and illustrator
• Xiaoguan Qiao (b. 1957), Chinese papercut artist
• Karen Bit Vejle(born 1958), Danish papercut artist
• Virgilijus Trakimavičius(born 1958), Lithuanian papercut and grattage artist
• Jeanette Kuvin Oren(born 1961), American papercut artist
• Rob Ryan(born 1962), British papercut and serigraph artist
• Lane Twitchell(born 1967), contemporary American Landscape artist
• Beatriz Vasquez(born 1969), Mexican-American traditional and neo-Papel picadoartist
• Kara Walker(born 1969), contemporary African American artist
• William Schaff(born 1973), American papercut artist; his work in cover of the album cover"I am Very Far"byOkkervil River.
• Nahoko Kojima(born 1981), contemporary Japanese papercut art, who creates sculptural, hanging papercuts
• Nikki McClure,American papercut artist
• Tusif Ahmad,Australian Islamic papercut artist

See also

• Chad (paper),left over fragments from cutting.
• Chinese paper folding
• Chinese paper cutting
• Leaf carving
• Scherenschnitte
• Silhouette
• Stencil
• Vytynanky (Wycinanki)
• Origami
• Kirigami
• Birchbark biting