Artwork
Eventail brisé
Eventail brisé is an unspecified work on paper by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1875 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris. The object is a hand‑held fan constructed from light‑colored wood, its ribs adorned with intricate, lace‑like carvings.
About this work
Overview
The object is a hand‑held fan constructed from light‑colored wood, its ribs adorned with intricate, lace‑like carvings. The central panel displays a painted arrangement of purple violets, white blossoms and green foliage, while a darker‑stained wooden handle completes the semi‑circular form. Its dual function as a cooling device and decorative accessory reflects the aesthetic concerns of its era.
Subject & Meaning
The painted motif centers on a modest bouquet, combining violets, white flowers and verdant leaves. Such botanical imagery was common in decorative arts, symbolizing refinement and an appreciation for nature’s transient beauty. The fan’s ornamental purpose suggests it served as a subtle means of personal expression, allowing the owner to display taste without overt display.
Technique & Style
Carved wooden ribs exhibit a delicate, openwork pattern reminiscent of textile lace, achieved through fine chiseling. The central panel employs watercolor‑like pigments applied in thin washes, allowing the floral colors to blend softly while retaining definition. The overall design balances precise woodwork with painterly surface decoration, characteristic of 19th‑century decorative objects.
History & Provenance
Fans of this construction were popular in the 1800s, when portable cooling devices also functioned as status symbols. While the specific origin of this piece is not recorded, its materials, carving style and painted palette align with European fan‑making traditions of the early to mid‑19th century, suggesting it was likely produced for a domestic market seeking both utility and ornament.
Artist & collection
Museum
Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris
Continue through works from the same source collection.
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
