Lucifer's merriment - dancing, prancing -
Frightening sight of dread.
Fiery hair, a wicked tail,
Two winged dogs do tread.
Deceitful laugh, disdainful joy,
On this his scornful night;
Then devilish shrieks and fearful screams
Evoke a dreadful sight.
Scherenschnitte, which means "scissor cuts" in German, is the art of paper cutting design. The artwork often has rotational symmetry within the design, and common forms include silhouettes, valentines, and love letters. The art tradition was founded in Switzerland and Germany in the 16th century and was brought to Colonial America in the 18th century by Swiss and German immigrants who settled primarily in Pennsylvania.
My good friend Wren recommended a neat book by Peter V. Fritsch. I had never heard of Scherenschnitte before, but I know I love Dutch folk art (especially hex signs), and when she sent me some images from the book, I couldn't order it quickly enough.
Here are some images and poetry...
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Thanks, Wren!
