Fan c. 1936

Rosalia Lane made this fan, we don’t know exactly when or where, using pencil and watercolour. The colours are so delicate, the whole piece seems to be exhaling rather than shouting, do you know what I mean? I’m struck by the way Lane hasn’t obscured the process: there are visible pencil lines and areas of the composition that are left unfinished. These areas give us a window into how Lane was thinking, planning, and exploring possibilities. It reveals a mind at work. Look at the detail of the tassel, how the lines gently curve and flow, suggesting movement and softness, while the top of the fan is more defined. These subtle details bring the whole piece alive, making it both a beautiful object and a record of the artist's creative journey. And it makes me think about other artists, maybe someone like Manet, who reveled in visible brushwork and unfinished compositions. The fan is beautiful because it embraces imperfection.