Folding Fan with Trompe l'Oeil Representations of Fans, Scrolls, and Figure Groups
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Paper. ivory
Dimensions
10 1/2 x 19 1/2 in. (26.7 x 49.5 cm)
Classification
Fans
Culture
Chinese, for the European Market
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Mary Strong Shattuck, 1935
Accession Number
35.80.43
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 19th-century folding fan crafted by an unknown Chinese artist for the European market, masterfully employs *trompe l'œil*—a technique meaning "deceive the eyeto create astonishingly realistic depictions of fans, scrolls, and lively figure groups featuring men, women, and. Made of delicate paper mounted on ivory guards, it measures 10½ x 19½ inches open, transforming a utilitarian accessory into a tour de force of illusionistic painting. The intricate details invite viewers to question what is painted and what is real, blurring the boundaries between two and three dimensions. Pr...