Plate 34, from the Fans of the Period series (N7) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

This chromolithograph was created by Allen & Ginter for a series of cigarette cards. The fan, prominently displayed, is not merely an accessory but a potent symbol. In the late 19th century, as in prior eras, fans were central to the unspoken language of courtship and social navigation, speaking volumes through subtle gestures. The motif of the fan stretches back through centuries and across cultures. From ancient Egypt, where fans signified status, to the elaborate fan language of the Georgian and Victorian eras, they served as tools for communication. Consider the psychological weight of concealing and revealing; the fan allows for a dance of visibility, mirroring the complex interplay between inner emotions and public presentation. This carefully controlled self-expression resonates with our own subconscious negotiations between privacy and display. Thus, the fan becomes more than decoration—it is a charged artifact within the theater of social interaction, a symbol continuously reinterpreted through history.