Paintings of elegant ladies on fans are nothing more than the objectification of women!

When visiting Nanhu Lake in Jiaxing, don't miss the "Elegant Ladies of Jiangnan Fan Painting Exhibition" at the Jiaxing Museum. Admire the fans, revisit history, and participate in activities like stamp collecting, taking photos with hair ornaments, and writing inscriptions on fans. It seems they're aiming for internet fame. Fans, also known as "sha", have a rich history. Large, long-handled fans were used in ceremonial processions, also called "zhangyu". Small, short-handled fans, or "bianmian", were used daily for cooling off and as a shield. A warrior never left his sword, and a scholar never left his fan. They evoked images of a cool breeze from the sleeve, the bright moon embraced, chasing the wind and elegance, and expressing aspirations through objects. Early fans were made of bamboo strips and feathers. During the Qin and Han dynasties, silk fans, also known as palace fans, reunion fans, or love fans, appeared and became most popular during the Tang and Song dynasties. Folding fans, also called "jutou shan" (gathering head fans), emerged in the Song Dynasty. They could be folded and tucked into the waistband when not in use, hence the name "waist fan". The earliest extant calligraphy on a fan is a cursive script fan by Emperor Huizong of Song. Fans are also known as "elegant objects for the sleeve," crafted by artisans and imbued with soul by literati. Round silk fans have always carried a melancholic undertone of fading beauty and neglected love. The discarded autumn fan is a recurring cultural theme in paintings of elegant ladies, aligning with the melancholic themes prevalent in Ming and Qing dynasty portrayals of women. Painting elegant ladies on fans requires ingenious composition. The uneven surface of folding fans truly tests an artist's skill. Within a small space, infinite elegance unfolds. Meticulous brushwork depicts refined elegance, capturing every detail. Complemented by freehand-style backgrounds, these paintings effectively portray the graceful, delicate, and melancholic figures of elegant ladies.