Unidentified Photographer (U.S.) Behind the Fans Tintype, circa 1885 Approximately 3.5 x 2.25 inches Folding fans play an important role in Japanese Noh drama, where a fan may represent such varied objects as the moon, a lantern, or a dagger. When fans were adopted by Victorian-era American women as a fashion accessory, they were also used as a form of wordless communication. As in Noh, gesture was everything for a young woman in a social situation. In 1872, for example, the Young Ladies' Journal offered this handy list for decoding the secret language of fans: Fan fast - I am independent Fan slow - I am engaged Fan with right hand in front of face - come on Fan with left hand in front of face - leave me Fan open and shut - kiss me Fan open wide - love Fan half open - friendship Fan shut - hate Fan swinging - can I see you home? Twirling in right hand - I am watching you Drawn slowly across the cheek - I love you Resting fan on right cheek - yes Placing the fan behind your head - don't forget me Touching the fan against your left ear - go away! One wonders exactly what message the three young ladies in the tintype above intended to send by sprawling on the floor of the studio and glaring so intently from behind their fans. That particular gesture does not seem to be on the list!