Cleveland Museum of Art

Fan

Marie Gallois

Date

c. 1850–1870

Medium

Leaf: gouache on paper; sticks and guards: mother-of-pearl; pivot: gold

Culture

France, late 19th century

Department

Decorative Art and Design

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This folding fan decorated with figures in 18th-century costume dancing, playing music, and flirting exemplifies the Rococo revival in America. In response to widespread urbanization and the spread of manufacturing, wealthy members of American society embraced styles and subjects of the past such as the fête champêtre (outdoor entertainment). This luxurious, handmade object denounces the mechanization of mass production.

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