Fan 1830 - 1865

This fan, made by R. Mateu in the 1800s, presents us with figures in elegant 18th-century attire. They evoke a sense of courtly love and social dance. The fan itself, beyond its practical use, has always been a powerful symbol, a communicative tool of flirtation and discretion. The elegant figures remind us of the continuous dance of human interaction, echoing motifs found in ancient Greek vase paintings depicting social gatherings. Consider how the fan’s imagery, like the gestures in a Renaissance painting, conveys subtle cues. Here, the fan becomes an extension of the self, a tool to conceal and reveal emotion. Just as a mask obscures yet highlights the face, the fan directs attention to the eyes, intensifying their expressiveness. It's a silent language, a visual rhetoric that engages our collective memory of social rituals. The unfolding of the fan, in a way, mirrors the unfolding of human relationships—a play of concealment and exposure.