Can anyone figure out who this is

[jtw1313]

...........

 

[KirkS]

It's a portrait of James Armstrong, taken in 1817, at Gettysburg, PA.

 

[The_Piratess]

It looks like it could be a relative of Louis Armstrong too.

 

[2screwed]

A couple of possibilities:

https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi/%25253C/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=58953976

Carlisle is about 10 miles from Gettysburg so this one is possible as well.
James Armstrong (1748-1828) | Dickinson College

 

[Rawhide]

Used to do this as a kid in school. Think your portrait could be underneath or gone.

 

[DCMatt]

It's a "shadow portrait".


These were popular as an inexpensive alternative to a painted portrait before photography came in to common use in the mid 1800's.


I also remember making these in grade school in the 60's (that's the 1960's...). We used a bright light to project our shadow on the paper and someone else traced the silhouette.


Early ones were painted or cut free-hand with scissors.

 

[The_Piratess]

It's a "shadow portrait".


These were popular as an inexpensive alternative to a painted portrait before photography came in to common use in the mid 1800's.


I also remember making these in grade school in the 60's (that's the 1960's...). We used a bright light to project our shadow on the paper and someone else traced the silhouette.


Early ones were painted or cut free-hand with scissors.

That's exactly what I thought too and that it really looked like it could be a relative of Louis Armstrong from that profile...

 

[mick56]

My first thought was Alfred Hitchcock.

 

[The_Piratess]

My first thought was Alfred Hitchcock.

Too funny. He was my first thought too but as I studied it more and with the name Armstrong, it reminded me more of a younger and thinner Satchmo.

 

[Edsel Detector]

My first thought was Alfred Hitchcock.

me too.