Plate 17, from the Fans of the Period series (N7) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

This lithograph was created by Allen & Ginter for their Cigarettes Brands, and features a woman seated on a chair, holding a pink fan, adorned with a golden crescent moon on her head. The crescent, since antiquity, has been associated with the feminine, particularly with lunar goddesses such as Artemis. The fan, an object of social etiquette, allowed women to signal interest, flirt or even reject an admirer. Notice how this woman shields part of her face with it, adding an aura of mystery. The fan reappears throughout history, from ancient Egypt, where they were used in religious ceremonies, to medieval Europe, where they were associated with nobility. Even today, we can see traces of it, perhaps less overtly, but its allure as an object of secrecy and concealed emotions persists, engaging us on a subconscious level. Like a recurring dream, this image has an emotional power to transcend time.