Eventail plié
1850
unspecified
From the collection of Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris
1850
unspecified
From the collection of Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris
This fan is open, showing two painted scenes on a black background. On the left, a woman in a light dress holds a fan, standing near a tree with a star above her. On the right, another woman in a dark outfit sits, her face partly hidden by a veil. The fan’s edges are slightly worn, and the handle looks old. The watercolor scenes are delicate but faded, with soft brushstrokes. The left image has a dreamy feel, while the right feels more mysterious. Notice the tiny beads in the woman’s hair on the left—tiny details like that make it special. Look up watercolor to see how artists use thin layers of paint to create light and shadow.
