Mastering Mounting
Source: www.pictureframingmagazine.com
Topic: Papercutting
Sort Desciption: The intricacies and delicate nature of these artw orks have been a joy to view, a source of history, an enjoyable pastime, and a bane of many a custom framer. Papercutting involves a design that has ...
Content Inside:
A
n interesting topic is papercuts. Im
not referring to a painfully sliced
finger from a freshly cut window
mat, but a centuries-old folk art. The
intricacies and delicate nature of these artworks
have been a joy to view, a source of
history, an enjoyable pastime, and a bane
of many a custom framer.
Papercutting involves a design that has
been laid out with a balance of positive
and negative space to allow for artistic del-
Mastering Mounting
Handling Decorative Papercuts
History of Chinese Papercutting
Papercutting is one of the oldest and most
enduring art activities in China, where it
is known as chien chih . The earliest samples
come from the Han dynasty (206
B.C. to A.D. 220), when gold and silver
foils were used instead of paper.
Cutting techniques have remained
somewhat constant for centuries. However,
papercutting in China has numerous
regional differences. Prior to the development
of modern transportation and communications,
many areas were isolated and
people relied on their own resources to
decorate their homes. Papercuts were used
not only to decorate walls, windows, and
lanterns, but also to depict images of what
families hoped for in life and death.
One of the most important annual
events for a Chinese family is the celebration
of the New Year. During this time,
people want to placate the gods and
ensure health and continued prosperity.
The papercuts from the Shaanxi
province in central China were of a single
color and often illustrated subjects in
everyday life. The image in Photo 2, for
example, depicts farmers need for strong
sheep. The strength came out of forceful
papercutting techniques, which still maintained
the imagination for creative interpretati ...
mastering mounting