Louis Nikola Boeken

This practical guide, originally published in 1921, explores the art of hand shadow entertainment, appealing to both adults and children. It covers essential topics such as lighting, projection techniques, and advanced practices, alongside detailed instructions for creating animal and bird shadows, character studies, and figures with accessories. The book also includes a shadow pantomime, making it a comprehensive resource for aspiring shadow artists. Illustrated with 85 diagrams, it serves as both an instructional manual and a celebration of this timeless form of entertainment.

Generations of entertainers have amused audiences of children and adults with the art of hand shadows, using only a light source and their own two hands to form immediately recognizable profiles of people and animals. Lovers of nostalgia and aspiring hand shadow artists will delight in this facsimile of a 1913 book, which features more than 50 hand shadows. These quaint illustrations depict many different types of shadows, from swans, rabbits, and other animals to historic figures and fictional characters. Each hand shadow is accompanied by a description of specific hand positioning and an illustration. Additional helpful tips include instructions on lighting, projection screens, and hand exercises.