What is the lettering on the paper-cut?

Paper-cutting includes positive engraving, negative engraving and yin-yang engraving.

The so-called positive engraving paper-cutting is to cut off the parts other than the pattern and keep the original points, lines and surfaces of the pattern. Generally, the cutting and engraving of positive images need to be connected with a pen. Its characteristic is to keep the outline of the manuscript and cut off the blank parts outside the outline. Every line of it is interrelated. Yang carved paper-cut is exquisite and meticulous, which is commonly used in southern paper-cutting.

Incision paper-cutting is to cut off the pattern itself, and the rest is the part outside the pattern. The content of the pattern is compared by lining paper. Incision paper-cutting generally requires line breaking. Gravure paper-cutting is characterized by carving the outline of the original manuscript and retaining the parts outside the outline, so the characteristics of gravure paper-cutting are that its lines are not necessarily connected, and the whole work is block-shaped.

In traditional paper-cutting, new paper-cutting methods are rarely adopted completely. Most of them combine the two methods of yin and yang engraving. There is a negative engraving in the positive engraving, and there is a positive engraving in the negative engraving, which makes the works of Yin and Yang complement each other and the picture effect is more abundant. Generally, the outline of the main pattern is cut out by male engraving first, and then decorative trimming is carried out by female engraving. Sometimes yin and yang go hand in hand and complement each other.

Silhouette is relatively the simplest kind of paper-cutting. Silhouette pays attention to realism and is one of the forms of paper-cutting. People and scenery are mainly expressed by cutting out the image of the outline, so the beauty and modeling of the outline are the most important, and black or dark paper is more suitable for silhouette.

Silhouette and paper sculpture:

Silhouettes need to be cut directly on paper, from the beginning to the completion of the work in one go. To master this skill, you need a deep knowledge of paper cutting. Xu Beihong, a famous painter in China, also said that silhouette shows a kind of "advanced modeling mind" in the form of paper-cutting, and the shadow of paper-cutting appeared in China's early shadow play. Therefore, as an art, silhouette is unique.

Paper engraving is a revolution of paper-cutting tools and a technological innovation. The paper used for paper carving is relatively thin, and the homemade carving knife works with the homemade wax board. Its advantage is that it can carve multiple layers at a time, and the master can reach dozens of layers, which is suitable for commercial production. Because the carving knife is used, the work can be more detailed than scissors, and moreover, the work with large screen can be made. Compared with scissors tools, engraving paper emphasizes technology and has its regular style.

The real engraving paper is called "engraving" because it needs to engrave the engraving knife vertically and forcefully and move forward one by one. Carved paper is found all over China, such as carved paper in Xiangxi, Hunan, carved paper in Jintan, Jiangsu, carved paper in Yueqing, Zhejiang and carved paper in Quanzhou, Fujian, all of which have entered the national intangible cultural heritage list.