A fan with a rebus on Love on one side Fortune on the other 1634 - 1644

This fan with a rebus, on the themes of love and fortune, was made by Stefano della Bella in the 17th century. Della Bella lived in a time where personal identity was intrinsically linked to social status and access to resources. The rebus—a puzzle using pictures to represent words—reflects a society deeply engaged with allegorical imagery and wordplay, where the elite classes took pleasure in intellectual games and courtly love. Consider the fan's function: a personal object used for cooling and display, also used to signal one's wit and sophistication. The themes of love and fortune intersect with the lives of women in the 17th century, where one's marital prospects, and thus social standing, were heavily dependent on both love and economic fortune. These themes served as conversation starters, tools for flirtation, and declarations of personal values. Ultimately, this fan encapsulates the intertwined personal and social dimensions, where objects served not only functional purposes but also reflected one's identity and place in the intricate tapestry of society.