The Language of the Hand Fan
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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. For your amusement we have recovered a set of messages pertaining to this language, which we include here: |
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The lady appears briefly at the balcony, slowly fanning herself, and returns inside, shutting the balcony: |
"I can’t go out" |
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If she appears briefly at the balcony, excitedly fanning herself, and quickly goes inside, leaving the balcony open: |
"I’ll go out soon" |
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Resting the fan on her lips: |
"I don’t trust you" |
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The lady fans herself with her left hand: |
"Don’t flirt with that woman" |
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Running her fingers through the fan’s ribs: |
"I want to talk to you" |
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Slowly fanning herself : |
"Don’t waste your time, I don’t care about you" |
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Quickly fanning herself: |
"I love you so much" |
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Moving her hair away from her forehead: |
"Don’t forget me" |
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Passing the fan from hand to hand: |
"I see that you are looking at another woman" |
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Hitting her hand’s palm: |
"Love me" |
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Carrying the fan closed and hanging from her left hand: |
"I’m engaged" |
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Carrying the fan closed and hanging from her right hand: |
"I want to be engaged" |
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Quickly and impetuously closing the fan: |
"I’m jealous" |
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Dropping the fan: |
"I belong to you" |
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Resting the fan on her heart: |
"My love for you is breaking my heart" |
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Half-opening the fan over her face: |
"We are being watched" |
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Hitting any object: |
"I’m impatient" |
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Hiding the sunlight: |
"You’re ugly" |
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Looking closely at the painting: |
"I like you" |
Image on top of page: The Lady with the Veil (Portrait of the Artist's wife) (1768). Painting by Alexander Roslin (1718 - 1793). Oil on canvas, 65 x 54 cm., National Museum, Stockholm.
