Fan c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have an 18th-century paper fan from an anonymous creator, found here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I'm immediately struck by how many stories are captured in one small object. It’s like a snapshot of a whole world. What symbols stand out to you? Curator: I see a conscious layering of narratives—a societal performance rendered in miniature. Consider how the fan itself functioned: a tool of flirtation, a shield, an extension of one’s social persona. The painted vignettes—courting scenes, landscapes, even what appear to be glimpses of courtly life—echo this performance. The architectural details, the carefully arranged figures… what do they evoke in you? Editor: They definitely suggest wealth and leisure, a very particular segment of society. But there's almost too much to take in at once; is there a hierarchy in the imagery, a main subject and supporting details? Curator: Perhaps not a hierarchy, but rather a careful construction of identity. Think of the fan as a stage, with the owner as both actor and director. Each image, each detail—from the gold leaf to the delicate lace—contributes to a curated self-representation. Consider how the repetition of floral motifs reinforces this idea of cultivated beauty and refined taste. It begs the question: what stories did this fan help its owner tell? Editor: So, it’s less about any single story depicted and more about the overall impression the fan conveys about its owner? Curator: Precisely. It becomes a powerful artifact of cultural memory, revealing not just aesthetic preferences but also the aspirations and anxieties of a particular time and place. Editor: That makes me appreciate the fan even more. It’s like holding a conversation with the past. Curator: Indeed, and understanding the language of its symbols allows us to decipher that conversation with greater nuance.