What is a physiognotrace?

• A. A mechanized contraption that copies a sitter's profile onto white paper to produce a silhouette in miniature.
• B. A form of glazed porcelain painting.
• C. A camera-based portrait technique.
• D. A decorative arch in architecture.

Answer: (A)

A device built to capture a person's silhouette by tracing the shape of their profile. It’s a mechanical method, not photographic, that transfers the traced outline onto white paper and produces a silhouette portrait in miniature. In use, a sitter sits still while the instrument’s moving arms or guides follow the contour of the head and neck, translating that contour into a clean, solid outline that is then filled in to create the dark silhouette. This technique offered a quick, affordable way to render a likeness before photographs became common, and the result emphasizes outer shape and profile rather than internal facial detail. It’s distinct from porcelain painting, camera-based portrait methods, or architectural decoration, which involve entirely different media and aims.