Artwork
Eventail brisé
Eventail brisé is an unspecified work on paper by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
About this work
Overview
The work titled “Eventail brisé” is a watercolor depiction of an open hand‑fan. Rendered with the fan’s ribs fanned out in a graceful semicircle, the composition places the decorative fan against a uniform gray backdrop, allowing the painted surface to dominate the viewer’s attention.
Subject & Meaning
The fan’s fabric is rendered with a botanical motif of irises and foliage, employing a palette of purples, greens and yellows. The inclusion of cut‑out patterns and inlaid mother‑of‑pearl squares on the ribs suggests an interest in the material culture of decorative objects, highlighting both their aesthetic appeal and functional design.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolor, the piece combines the loose, light‑filled handling associated with Impressionism with a careful observation of surface detail characteristic of Realism. The artist captures the translucency of the paper and the subtle sheen of mother‑of‑pearl, while the background’s flat gray reinforces the immediacy of the painted subject.
History & Provenance
“Eventail brisé” is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The museum’s holdings focus on objects and visual records that document cultural practices, and the watercolor aligns with that mission by documenting a traditional fan form within an artistic framework.
Artist & collection
Museum
Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris
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