Artwork
Eventail plié
Eventail plié is an unspecified work on paper by the Romanticist artist Alphonse Giroux. It dates from 1820 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
About this work
Overview
Eventail plié, executed in 1820 by French artist Alphonse Giroux, is a watercolor illustration preserved in the collections of the Museum of Ethnography. The work measures a modest size and functions as a decorative fan, integrating visual narrative with utilitarian design. Its composition captures a tranquil garden scene rendered in soft, blended hues that emphasize a serene atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts two women dressed in vivid, patterned garments, positioned within a lush garden. One figure holds a parasol while the other gestures with a fan, suggesting a leisurely encounter. Palm trees, flowering shrubs, and a calm sky form the backdrop, evoking an idealized view of tropical leisure and the social customs associated with fan usage in the early nineteenth century.
Technique & Style
Giroux employed watercolor on paper, a medium prized for its capacity to produce delicate washes and fine detail. The artist layered translucent pigments to achieve subtle gradations of color, while the black handle of the fan is rendered with precise carved motifs. The overall style balances decorative ornamentation with a naturalistic rendering of foliage and fabric.
History & Provenance
Created in 1820, the fan remained within private collections before being acquired by the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed as part of the institution’s holdings on material culture. Its preservation in the museum’s archives reflects the broader 19th‑century interest in documenting everyday objects through artistic means.
Artist & collection
Museum
Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris
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