Amelia Blackburn
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Amelia Blackburn was an English paper-cut artist active in the 1830s.[1] Her work became popular enough in Victorian England that, for a time, a paper-cut artwork was called an "Amelia."[2][3]
Blackburn lived with a chronic illness or disability and was referred to as an "invalid." Although less of a public figure than the English paper-cut artist Mary Delaney, she continued Delaney's influence on the popularity of paper-cutting as an art medium.[2] Like Delaney, she also created "paper mosaicks."[4][5]
Blackburn was active in the 1830s. She used common white kitchen paper for her paper-cuts, which she collaged together to form an image.[2][3] Extremely thin cuts were used for certain details in her work, such as bird feathers or flowers.[6] Some parts of her paper-cuts were left white, while others were painted using watercolor.[2][3] Her technique of painting her work was sometimes done in shades, and mimicked a painting more than a colored paper collage.[6]
Her style of paper-cut collage became popular enough in England that her pieces became known as "Amelias," her namesake.[6] For years, this then became the term used more generally for paper-cut artwork in English society.[2][3][7]
Blackburn also used pin-pricking as a technique to add fine details to her paper-cuts.[2][3] Pricks were made by flipping the paper over, and puncturing through the back of the piece. This technique became popular through her work.[1][8]
A few of Blackburn's papercuts are held by the British Museum in London including a bird in the branches of a small tree eyeing a snake coiled around its trunk and butterflies among the plants above the ground, also wreaths. The works include pin-pricking and hand colouring.[8]
References
- 1 2 Rich, Chris (1993). The Book of Papercutting: A Complete Guide to All the Techniques with More Than 100 Project Ideas. Sterling Publishing Company. pp. 16, 30. ISBN 978-0-8069-0285-2. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Angrave, Bruce (1957). Sculpture in Paper. Studio Publications. pp. 19–21. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Laye Andrew, H. E. (1978). The Arco Encyclopaedia of Crafts. New York: Arco Publishing Company, Inc. pp. 195, 206. ISBN 978-0-668-04630-5. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ↑ Turner, Jane, ed. (1996). The Dictionary of Art. Vol. 24. New York: Grove. p. 57. ISBN 1-884446-00-0. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ↑ Latham, Jean (1971). Victoriana. New York: Stein and Day. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-8128-1372-2. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 Ritchie, Carson I. A. (1976). Art in Paper. South Brunswick: A. S. Barnes and Co., Inc. p. 198. ISBN 978-0-498-01489-5. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ↑ Torbet, Laura, ed. (1980). The Encyclopedia of Crafts. New York: Scribner. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-684-16409-0. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- 1 2 Field, June (1973). Collecting Georgian and Victorian Crafts. Heinemann. pp. 8, 11. ISBN 978-0-434-26240-3. Retrieved 16 February 2026.