is it collage art or decoupage?
what’s the difference?
Collage art and decoupage are often confused. Although they both involve the cutting and pasting of images, the intention and results are very different. So, what is the difference anyway?
collage art
collage art is defined by dictionary.com as-
“a technique of composing a work of art by pasting on a single surface various materials not normally associated with one another as newspaper clippings, parts of photographs, theatre tickets and fragments of an envelope.”
a very brief history of collage art
The word 'collage' comes from the French word meaning 'to glue'. Collage art became mainstream in the early 20th century, being made popular as an artistic medium by artists such as Picasso.
The Dada movement originated in Zurich, Switzerland during World War One as a response to the war and nationalism. It soon spread to New York, Berlin and other cities. Dadaism utilised collage art very effectively with artists creating collages, assemblages, and photomontages. Artists such as Hannah Höch, Kurt Schwitters and Marcel Duchamp were drawn to the art of creating a new piece out of mundane materials.
collage art today
Contemporary collage art includes an amazing array of styles, from minimalist work to otherworldly dreamscapes.
above- analogue (hand cut) collage giclée print by Kate Cuthbert
decoupage
decoupage is defined by dictionary.com as-
“the art or technique of decorating something with cut-outs of paper, linoleum, plastic, or other flat material over which varnish or lacquer is applied”
a very brief history of decoupage
Decoupage originated in France in the 17th century, used to decorate furniture. It drew influence from Chinese paper cutting, Polish folk art and Siberian felt appliques.
decoupage today
Today, decoupage is often associated with smaller objects with practical uses such as trays, tins and tissue boxes.
decoupage of a tin
In summary, you hang collage art on the wall and you decorate objects with decoupage!
Have you tried your hand at collage art or decoupage? Let me know in the comments!
xx
kate