Artwork
Eventail plié
Eventail plié is an unspecified work on paper by the Post-Impressionist artist Ernest Kees. It dates from 1900 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, created in 1900 by Ernest Kees, is a folding fan preserved in the Museum of Ethnography. Its design blends decorative craftsmanship with delicate painting, reflecting early 20th-century European decorative arts. The fan opens to reveal a soft palette of pale pink and cream, adorned with hand-painted floral motifs and edged with lace trim.
Subject & Meaning
The fan features stylized white flowers and green leaves, rendered with a lightness that suggests botanical illustration rather than symbolic narrative. The absence of overt iconography points to an emphasis on aesthetic refinement rather than narrative or cultural storytelling, aligning with the period’s taste for understated elegance in personal objects.
Technique & Style
Watercolor was applied in thin, layered washes to achieve a translucent effect, enhancing the fragility of the floral forms. The sticks are accented with small silver dots along their edges, while the handle is wrapped in a light ribbon tied in a bow. Scalloped lace borders add texture, contrasting with the smooth painted surface and reinforcing the object’s intimate, refined character.
History & Provenance
The fan entered the collection of the Museum of Ethnography shortly after its creation, likely as part of a broader effort to document domestic decorative arts. Its maker, Ernest Kees, is not widely documented, suggesting the work may have been produced for a private or artisanal market rather than mass production.
Context
Created around 1900, the fan reflects the continued popularity of handcrafted personal accessories in an era of industrialization. While mass-produced fans were becoming common, this piece retains the hand-painted detail and textile embellishments associated with bespoke items, indicating a niche market valuing artisanal quality.
Legacy
Eventail plié remains a quiet example of early 20th-century feminine adornment, preserved not for its fame but for its craftsmanship. It contributes to broader studies of everyday objects as cultural artifacts, illustrating how personal items carried aesthetic values beyond utility.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ernest Kees painted delicate fan-shaped watercolors called *Eventail plié*. These small, folded works were popular in France during the late 1800s, often used as gifts or souvenirs. The artist made several versions…
Museum
Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris
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