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FAN-tastic


In the past, hand fans were used not only as cooling instruments, but also as convenient communication devices, mainly for transmitting more or less furtive love messages. A language of the fan, which is today completely forgotten, was widely used.

The Ball
The Language of the Fan

The Language of the Fan

Portrait of Lady With a Fan
Rembrandt Van Rijn

The Political Lady
Antique Fans

Rose and Silver: The Princess from the Land of Porcelain
Cover the left ear with the open fan: Do not betray out secret

The Peacock Fan
With little finger extended: Good-bye

Symphony in White No. II : The Little White Girl
The shut fan held to the heart: You have won my love

Idle Hours
Twirling it in the left hand: We are watched

Sweet Summer
Placing it on left ear: I wish to get rid of you

Midsummer
The shut fan resting on the right eye: When may I be allowed to see you?

Hush!
Open wide: Wait for me

The Finding of Moses
Drawing across the cheek: I love you

Young Woman in a Boat
Open and shut: You are cruel

A Fond Farewell
Carrying in left hand, open: Come and talk to me

Dolce Far Niente
Fanning slowly: I am married

Phyleis
Touching tip with finger: I wish to speak with you

A Revery
The number of sticks shown answered the question: At what hour?

Dolce Far Niente
Half open fan pressed to the lips: You may kiss me.

Mrs. Norman Holbrook
Fanning quickly: I am engaged

An Offering
Dropping the fan: I belong to you.

On the Temple Steps
Threatening movements with closed fan: Don't be so impudent!

Symphony In White No. III
Twirling in the right hand: I love another

Luna
Presenting the fan shut: Do you love me?

In the Beach House
Letting it rest on left cheek: No

Portrait of Louise A. Baldwin
Resting fan on lips: I don't trust you

In the Tepidarium
Letting it rest on right cheek: Yes

The Studio
Dropping it: We will be friends

The Gallery of HMS Calcutta (Portsmouth)
With handle to lips: Kiss me

In the Prime of the Summer Time
Placed behind head: Don't forget me

Cleopatra trying out poisons on her lovers
Drawing across the eyes: I am sorry

Idleness
Carrying it in the right hand: You are too willing

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2/13/2004 6:38:03 PM Lucrezia Borgia Fascinating! Thanks stargazer! :)
2/13/2004 7:35:08 PM lilymaid Wonderful, stargazer.
2/13/2004 10:15:57 PM princess daisy oh such fun stargazer! and so clever!!
2/14/2004 6:13:46 AM Treeseed What a great album! I had no idea! What fun and what beauty. Good job, Star.
2/14/2004 9:03:44 AM Venus de Milo my god, i want a fan now! Great album stargazer, i loved the pictures you put with each message, they are all beautiful!
2/14/2004 12:12:02 PM stargazer Sometimes I think we've missed out on all the fun...other times I think, nahhhh, what a bother! It is interesting though, isn't it? I'm very glad you all enjoyed it...~*~
2/16/2004 7:10:44 AM dreamingelis hey it's great to acquire such an interesting knowledge? how international is this koding? usable in mid east too ;)
2/16/2004 10:38:45 AM stargazer I suppose you could use it anywhere. The only problem you'd have was finding someone to understand what signals you were sending. Perhaps you can bring it back into fashion...~*~
3/8/2004 11:25:40 AM Ager Somnia What a fascinating album. Thanks stargazer. I'll have to go out and buy a fan now :)
3/9/2004 6:32:48 AM stargazer There's going to be a run on fans Ager..we all want one...~*~
5/1/2004 1:32:01 PM Ariadne you did an excellent job on combing through all the paintings with fans! i never noticed how often they were portrayed in art
5/1/2004 1:36:03 PM abinsolitude FAN-tastic..:)..
5/1/2004 1:50:56 PM stargazer After I noticed how many fans I was spotting in the paintings, I began to look for them in ernest...and this album was born. I'm glad you visited, Ariadne...~*~
5/1/2004 1:51:29 PM stargazer Thanks ab...I appreciate it...~*~
5/1/2004 5:49:25 PM moonchild3 very enlightening, lovely album, merci ~
6/3/2004 11:57:45 AM Berta This is amazing! I too would like to get a fan now and try 'speaking' a little of this most interesting language. Thank you, stargazer. :)
6/3/2004 12:27:18 PM chiaroscuro And this one would mean? -- http://artmagick.com/paintings/painting1490.aspx -- :)
6/3/2004 4:41:32 PM stargazer It would be fun, wouldn't it Berta? I'd probably send out all the wrong messages!
6/3/2004 4:42:37 PM stargazer C...I couldn't find a meaning for lying supine holding a white fan so I went with a generic meaning....:) Thanks for the addition...~*~
1/9/2005 3:32:32 PM Battlemaiden Who knew there were so many paintings with fans?
1/9/2005 3:47:47 PM stargazer True, Battlemaiden. When I started looking for them, I found them everywhere...~*~
10/26/2006 3:58:47 PM L'Aurore hey,I thought I had written here..I love this album..so fun:)
10/26/2006 4:02:04 PM Lysia Really fantastic
10/26/2006 5:16:27 PM chiaroscuro Great links. Had some time to explore. Loved the Rembrandt. You know, I never really noticed the fan in Waterhouse's 'Sweet Summer'..This is a very good theme! Has it really been 2 years??! ;)
10/27/2006 9:55:29 AM kat great album stargazer as always--informative, linking, lovely choices, and I also appreciate the Rembrandt. I was not familiar with fan lady! Years to go by! I guess I had missed this many moons ago.
10/27/2006 2:02:21 PM stargazer Two years..hard to believe. I'm checking websites and updatine albums. You'll see many oldies popping up. I appreciate the visits from one and all.
2/6/2007 3:37:24 AM krolika Very FAN-tastic album :) yesyes
2/6/2007 12:07:09 PM stargazer bluangel--as always, I appreciate knowing you've enjoyed the album. Have a great day..:)