Paper cutting art, known as "Papierknipkunst," is the craft of creating shapes by cutting or carving paper with scissors or a knife. When these cutouts are placed on a differently colored background, the outlines create a striking contrast. A commonly used technique involves folding the paper in half to achieve a symmetrical design. Often, after unfolding the paper, the artist adds different details to the left and right sides, introducing variations. Classic motifs include hearts, swans, and folkloric patterns. In the past, many cutouts were made for special occasions such as births or weddings, often featuring traditional motifs and Biblical stories. Nowadays, the focus is more on nature, everyday life scenes, and experimenting with forms.
Description
Community
Paper cutters can be found throughout the Netherlands, with many of them being members of the Dutch Association for Paper Cutting Art. On a local level, they form cutting circles that meet several times a year to inspire each other. Additionally, more and more cutters are connecting through digital platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Zoom. The Dutch Association for Paper Cutting Art has nearly 350 members and publishes the magazine Knip-Pers four times a year. The Museum of Paper Cutting Art in Westerbork is entirely dedicated to this craft and is the only place in the Netherlands where paper art is permanently exhibited. Other museums with noteworthy collections include the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands Open Air Museum in Arnhem, and the Westfries Museum in Hoorn. The W.Tj. Lever Foundation, named after the founder of the Museum of Paper Cutting Art, along with several private enthusiasts, conducts research into the history of paper cutting art.
History
The oldest known Dutch paper cutting was created by Jonker Hessel van Ostheim in 1589. It is a cut-out family crest found in an album amicorum. A relatively large amount of paper cutting art has been preserved from the seventeenth century. During that time, it seems that more paper cuttings were produced in the Dutch Republic than in surrounding countries. From this period, professional paper cutters emerged, who worked on commission and sold their products door-to-door. In the eighteenth century, as paper became cheaper and more widely available, more people began practicing paper cutting. The design of the cuttings often reflects the prevailing fashion styles of the time.
Safeguarding
2022-2024
- Through the website www.knipacademie.nl practical tools are offered to those interested.
- Because young people are hard to reach with guest lectures at school, they will be approached through social media.
- The available archive material is inventoried and recorded in a digital database that is published on the Internet. (www.knipperslexicon.nl).
- In the anniversary year 2023 two manuscripts, one by Eline Huizenga Onnekes and one by Tjeerd Lever, will be published digitally.
- Contacts within the cultural world will be established and where they already exist expanded.
- Collaborations with medium-sized museums and galleries for exhibitions are started.
- With the help of the website, social media and a clipping lexicon (www.knipperslexcon.nl) more visibility will be created online.
- The possibility of organizing a course on how to run courses is being investigated.
- More visibility will be created in lifestyle magazines and online, so that the paper cutting art is brought to the attention of people who currently do not know what they are missing from the paper cutting art.
- More online content will be created so that paper cutting art is brought to the attention of new practitioners. Specifically, this will be done, among other things, through www.knipacademie.nl
Contact
Nederlandse Vereniging voor Papierknipkunst-
prov. Utrecht
Website
