What is "shadowgraphy"

Shadowgraphy or ombromanie is the art of performing a story or show using images made by hand shadows. It can be called "cinema in silhouette". Performers are titled as a shadowgraphist or shadowgrapher.

The art has declined since the late 19th century when electricity became available to homes because light bulbs and electric lamps do not give off good shadows and because cinema and television were becoming a new form of entertainment. Shadows are greatly defined by candlelight; therefore hand shadows were common in earlier centuries.

The modern art of hand shadows was made popular by the French entertainer Félicien Trewey in the 19th century. He popularized the art by making silhouettes of famous personalities.

Shadowgraphy may refer to:

• Shadowgraphy (performing art), using hand shadows
• Shadow play or shadow puppetry, performing art using cut-out figures
• Radiography, the use of X-rays
• Shadowgraphs or shadowgrams, an optical method that reveals non-uniformities in transparent media
• Shadowgraph is an electromagnetic and optical device once used as an alternative to magic eye tube