Decoupage / Collage
Decoupage
From the French verb ‘decouper’ which means ‘to
cut out’, refers to the technique by which surfaces are
decorated with pictures cut out from magazines, wrapping paper
that are glued an varnished.
Europe discovered this craft in the 16th century when the first
furniture and object arrived from the East.
In the 17th century, the European courts had decoupage on everything.
It was said that ‘even Marie Antoinette amused herself by
practising the noble art of decoupage’. In England, in the
19th century, furniture and objects were covered with ribbons,
frames, bows, flowers or cherubs.
In the 1950s, in America, collages of tropical flowers, pin-ups
or post-cards were used to realise decoupage.
Collage
From the French verb ‘coller’ which means ‘to
glue’/to stick on’.
This technique is slightly the same technique as decoupage except
that it uses pieces of torn-out-paper. You do not choose the motif
but the coulour and then realise your pattern (like a mosaic).
