Fan 1830 - 1865

This is a fan made around the 19th century by Bertrand. The fan, a ubiquitous object of feminine adornment, becomes more than a mere accessory. It's a stage for societal narratives. Note the scene of the aristocratic gathering: women are central, surrounded by nature and engaged in leisure. The fan carries with it an echo of ancient gestures used in sacred rituals, now softened into an instrument of flirtation and social display. Across time, we see the fan used in depictions of goddesses, queens, and women of high status, wielding it as a symbol of power and mystery. Think of the peacock fan, associated with Juno, Queen of the Gods, or the flabella used during mass. Here, the image reminds us how symbols evolve, adapting to societal shifts and yet retaining a vestige of their original power, engaging us on a subconscious level. These symbols are not linear in their progression; they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, each time imbued with the emotional and cultural weight of history.