The famous Italian Renaissance sculptor and painter Michelangelo once said, “The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection.”  Being able to create a likeness of someone from paper in just minutes is a fascinating, dying art.  “Cutting portraits” became popular in the mid-18th century, as they were a more affordable alternative to portrait miniatures the wealthy could have painted.  Ever since our little one was born, I have taken her to have a silhouette made; her sweet face in profile.  I remember the first year she was basically just a beautiful head but the artist captured her long, thick eyelashes, pert nose, and full rosebud lips to perfection.  The second year she looked exactly the same only I remember feeling triumphant because he had cut one tiny curl coming from the back of her head at the bottom by her neck.  The third year I noticed a bit of a break in the front; wisps of hair were beginning to form over her forehead.  By the fourth year she had an abundance of curls that did not even go past her ears.  But OH I was so proud!  And now look at my girl this year!  That’s perfectly spiraled, thick, golden red princess hair even if I do say so myself.  You cannot see the color of course but that truly is her likeness.  In fact seeing this year’s hurt a bit.  For the first time she did not have the rounded babyish cheeks and chin.  There is an air to her that seems more like a young little girl; no longer the infant, baby, or toddler — perhaps rather a shadow … of the divine perfection.