Folk Art Designs From Polish Wycinanki and Swiss and German Scherenschnitte

Scherenschnitte, The Art of Papercutting

Guest Article written and copyright © Susan S. Hahn
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Scherenschnitte, the aboriginal fine art of papercutting, is German for 'scissors snips.' It began in Cathay with the invention of paper, around 100 A.D by Cai Lun in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Chinese papercuttings (called Jianzhi) were very popular during the Sung Dynasty (10th-13th centuries). Cuttings were placed in windows and on doors as protective images from evil and were also called chuang hua (significant Window Flower). Early paperuttings in China were made past wealthy nobles equally a form of entertainment. The oldest surviving papercut, a cutting circle design, was found in Xinjiang, Communist china and dates from the 6th century. Paper-making was taken by Chinese war prisoners into the Arabic region of the world about 750 A.D. and from there spread to Europe. Papercutting came from People's republic of china to Austria by way of Indonesia, Persia, and the Balkan Peninsula. Past the 14th century, it had spread to the rest of the world.

After being 'exported' to Europe, information technology became a very popular tradition, especially in Germany, Denmark, Holland, Switzerland and other countries. These early types of cuttings were usually 'palm-sized' and consisted of tiny landscapes. Many of these antique cuttings take been constitute inside old pocket watches. They were usually collected by the wealthy.

Hans Christian Andersen, not but regaled children with his delightful stories, but was likewise a very unique papercutter himself, snipping away at designs while telling his charming tales to his audition. At the terminate of his story, he would open up out his finished cuttings to the amazement of everyone listening. Many of his acquaintances and friends were given these cuttings as gifts and were highly treasured. A museum featuring many of his famous papercuttings is open to the public in Odense, Denmark.  Cheque out the Hans Christian Andersen Museum's wonderful website at http://museum.odense.dk/museums/hans-christian-museum.aspx

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The art of papercutting has become part of many dissimilar cultures including Jewish, Polish, and Mexican. The Jewish tradition of papercutting has been used amidst its people to raise ketubahs (spousal relationship contracts), special Jewish occasions and feasts (such as Shabbat Mitzvah, and Passover, etc.) and are treasured and hung as artwork in Jewish homes. These types of papercuts oft utilise symmetrical designs featuring traditional Jewish words and symbols.

• Jewish Way Cutting, Adapted & Cut by Susan Hahn

Polish papercutting has its ain unique style, called Wycinanki (vee-cee-not-primal). Their particular version of papercutting traditions was first expert by shepherds in Poland who cut out images from tree bark and in later years transitioned information technology to paper. This form dates from the early to mid 19th century and was used for domicile decorations and window coverings. Each region in Poland established its own signature mode of cutting and are usually fabricated with many layers of very colorful papers, fit together to form a consummate blueprint oftentimes using roosters, birds, and multi-folded medallion style designs. Other parts of the country employ only one color in their designs. Today they still have festivals in diverse parts of Poland honoring these various papercutting styles.

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Mexican papercutting is called Papel-Picado, or 'perforated paper' and originated in aboriginal Mexico. Aztecs used mulberry and fig tree barks to make a rough form of newspaper, chosen 'Amatl.' In United mexican states, during the mid 1800's, people were forced to buy from 'hacienda stores' and it was here they discovered paper from China. In more than recent years, tissue paper has become the newspaper of choice for Papel-Picado. Artisans layer xl to fifty sheets of various colors of tissue paper at a time and dial out their designs using fierritos, or chisels. When completed, they are hung on string to make long banners used for weddings, religious festivals, and other special events. Featured designs include birds, flowers, and animals. Skeleton designs are likewise used to accolade the 'Twenty-four hours of the Dead' celebrations in Mexico.

• Papel-Picado (Mexican Cutting)

The art of papercutting in the United States began with High german immigrants to Pennsylvania, as well as others who brought the arts and crafts with them from Europe. Valentine tokens were cut and embellished, too as hymeneals certificates, and nascence commemoratives including fraktur. Before the invention of photography, silhouettes or 'shadow cuttings' were likewise quite popular every bit a parlor game, and likewise from traveling artists who cutting the side views of many famous (and non-so-famous) 'heads' of that time up and down the Eastern Seaboard.

• Circa 1790 Scherenschnitte Fraktur

Although in that location has never been a large number of artists involved with this medium in the past, the art has recently enjoyed a renaissance of sorts with a growing number of artists and collectors discovering its unique characteristics and visual entreatment. Antique and vintage cuttings accept ever been quite collectible but are condign more difficult to find.

Modern scherenschnitte is still a growing art grade, influenced past innovative techniques and inspiration, including cutting instruments (sheep shears, scalpels, surgical pair of scissors, etc), papers (mitt-made, naturally dyed, rice paper, etc) and design (original sketches, free-form, traditional). An artists' social club for this medium exists, The Guild of American Papercutters (GAP - world wide web.papercutters.org), with 325 members, and is representative of all forms of the sometime styles of cutting, as well equally new and creative ones.

Please come across the antique Scherenschnitte currently in inventory on the Folk Art folio.

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