What Are the Different Types of Papercutting?

Papercutting is one of those art forms that feels almost magical in its simplicity. A single sheet of paper and a sharp blade or pair of scissors are all it takes to create entire worlds of symbolism, storytelling, and memory. Across centuries and cultures, people have used papercuts to decorate homes, honor milestones, preserve traditions, and even process grief. Today, papercutting has evolved into a vibrant art form that can be traditional, modern, or deeply personal—sometimes all at once.

But what are the different types of papercutting? To answer that, we need to journey across cultures, through history, and into the modern creative landscape where papercutting continues to thrive. Along the way, you may discover the form that resonates most with your own story.

The Roots of Papercutting: Traditional Types Around the World

Chinese Papercutting

China is often considered the birthplace of papercutting, dating back to the Han dynasty more than 1,500 years ago. Chinese papercuts are often red, symbolizing good fortune and happiness. They appear on windows during Lunar New Year, at weddings, and in other celebrations. Common motifs include zodiac animals, birds, flowers, and auspicious symbols like the double happiness character.

Chinese paper cut art is not just decorative—it carries meaning. For example, a papercut of a rooster might symbolize punctuality and protection, while a fish represents abundance. When hung on a window, the interplay of light and shadow adds another dimension to the design. It’s a reminder that papercutting is as much about what’s removed as what remains.

Jewish Papercutting

Jewish communities have a long history of papercutting, particularly as part of religious and cultural traditions. One of the most notable applications is the intricate decoration of marriage contracts (ketubot) or ceremonial pieces for holidays. Jewish papercuts often feature symbols like the Star of David, menorahs, and Hebrew calligraphy, all arranged with exquisite symmetry.

These works served as both spiritual objects and artistic expressions, turning simple paper into something sacred and enduring.

Scherenschnitte from Switzerland and Germany

The German word Scherenschnitte translates to “scissor cuts,” and this European style of papercutting is defined by its crisp silhouettes and delicate details. Originating in Switzerland and Germany in the 16th century, Scherenschnitte often depicted rural life, pastoral landscapes, and family scenes.

Unlike the bold reds of Chinese papercuts, Scherenschnitte tended toward stark black-and-white contrasts. The silhouettes create a timeless look that feels both classic and intimate, capturing daily life in a way that celebrates its quiet beauty.

Papel Picado from Mexico

If Chinese papercuts are steeped in symbolism and Scherenschnitte in pastoral memory, Mexican papel picado explodes with color and festivity. These vibrant banners, made by chiseling patterns into stacked layers of colored tissue paper, are a staple of celebrations such as Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and fiestas.

Papel picado often features patterns of flowers, skeletons, or geometric shapes. Hung across streets or altars, they flutter in the breeze like a dance of remembrance and joy. In the context of Día de los Muertos, papel picado symbolizes the fragility of life itself—light, fleeting, but beautiful while it lasts.

Polish Wycinanki

Polish papercutting, known as wycinanki, is characterized by bold, colorful layers of paper that create floral and geometric motifs. Traditionally, villagers used sheep-shearing scissors to cut these designs, which decorated homes and were used to celebrate Easter or harvest festivals. The layered effect makes wycinanki particularly vibrant, almost resembling fabric appliqué rather than delicate cuts.

Modern Expressions of Papercutting

While traditional papercuts remain treasured, contemporary artists have pushed the boundaries of the medium, adapting it to new contexts and personal storytelling.

Decorative Papercutting

This category includes works made to beautify spaces—wall hangings, lampshades, or even architectural installations. Modern decorative papercuts often blend abstract and floral patterns with contemporary aesthetics. These works prove that papercut art doesn’t have to be tied to heritage; it can be simply a celebration of design.

Silhouette Papercutting

Silhouette art has a long history, particularly in Europe and the United States, where it was once a popular way to capture portraits before photography became common. Today, silhouette papercutting often focuses on people and pets. A profile in paper carries an elegance that photographs sometimes miss: the mystery of a shadow frozen in time.

For many pet owners, silhouettes offer a way to preserve the presence of a beloved animal—whether as a keepsake of a current companion or as a memorial after loss. A papercut of a wagging tail or an upright cat’s posture can capture personality in a way words struggle to.

Narrative Papercutting

Narrative papercutting takes the form beyond decoration and into storytelling. Artists create papercuts that depict myths, folktales, or personal journeys, often layering multiple panels or constructing scenes that unfold like a visual diary. This type of papercut bridges the gap between fine art and literature, offering a story told entirely through shapes and shadows.

Memorial Papercutting

Perhaps the most personal and poignant of modern papercutting is its use in memorial art. Whether to honor a family member, a beloved pet, or a significant life event, memorial papercuts transform grief into beauty. They serve as tangible reminders that love, though invisible, can take shape in paper.

At SnipSnap, for example, papercut artwork becomes more than decoration—it becomes a vessel for memory. A custom pet memorial papercut can immortalize the curve of a cat’s tail or the loyal stance of a dog, turning paper into a tribute that words alone cannot express. In a world where industrialized memorials like stones can feel impersonal, papercutting offers intimacy and warmth.

Why Papercutting Speaks to the Heart

Looking at the many types of papercutting, you may notice a pattern: no matter the culture or era, papercuts exist at the intersection of simplicity and depth. They require little in terms of materials, yet the results are astonishingly powerful.

Why does papercutting resonate so deeply? Perhaps it’s because paper itself is fragile, like life. To cut into it is to create absence, but absence here becomes form. The holes, the spaces, and the delicate edges mirror how memory works—what’s gone still shapes what remains.

For someone grieving a pet, a papercut silhouette may feel like that: the absence of the pet’s physical body, yet the enduring presence of its shape, frozen lovingly in art. For a family celebrating a wedding, the delicate layers of Jewish papercuts echo the complexity of shared futures. For communities decorating streets with papel picado, the fragility of tissue paper reflects the fleeting joy of celebration.

Papercutting is universal, yet endlessly personal.

Bringing Papercutting Into Your Life

If you’re intrigued by the world of papercuts, you might be wondering how to engage with it yourself. There are many ways:

• As Home Décor: Decorative papercuts bring texture and elegance to walls and windows.

• As Celebration: Papel picado or Chinese papercuts can add meaning and festivity to holidays.

• As Storytelling: Commissioning or creating a narrative papercut can capture a personal journey.

• As Memorial: A silhouette or customized papercut memorial, such as those offered by SnipSnap, can provide comfort and remembrance.

Whichever type speaks to you, the common thread is that papercutting is about transforming paper into something more—a reflection of memory, culture, and connection.

Conclusion: More Than Just Paper

From Chinese festivals to Swiss farms, from Mexican altars to modern pet memorials, papercutting has taken countless forms. Each type tells us something unique about the people who made it, yet all share a common truth: paper can hold emotions as surely as it holds ink.

The next time you see a papercut—whether a festive papel picado fluttering in the breeze, a delicate wycinanki on a Polish wall, or a custom silhouette of a beloved pet—pause for a moment. Ask yourself what story it holds. Ask yourself what memory it preserves. You may find that, like countless generations before us, a piece of paper can also be a piece of your heart.