Portrait of a Lady with a Fan 

Theo van Rysselberghe painted this “Portrait of a Lady with a Fan” with oil on canvas. It’s a very traditional medium, of course, but think about the time it was made. The application is key: you can see the energy of the artist’s brushstrokes, the way the paint is built up, especially in the background. Rysselberghe was associated with neo-impressionism, where pointillist paintings were constructed from careful arrangements of dots. Here, he’s loosened up, but still keeping a close control on the texture. The paint isn’t just describing the scene, it *is* the scene. Now, consider the fan, it’s both art object, fashion accessory, and labor-saving device all in one. The fan adds social and cultural significance to the portrait, and elevates this painting beyond a simple study of a woman. Ultimately, the meaning of this artwork lies not only in its subject, but also in its materials, its making, and its context. It is through these elements that we can appreciate the artistry and skill of van Rysselberghe, and challenge the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.