Double-sided Decorative Kyoto Fan "Gods of Wind and Thunder / Flowering plants of summer and autumn"

This is a decorative fan in the style of a 舞扇子 (mai-sen) fan. The fan measures approximately 11" (28.5 cm) in height and 20" (50 cm) in width when open. The front and back of the fan feature different patterns, allowing you to enjoy it in two ways depending on the season or occasion. This fan is hand-painted.

A reproduction of Sotatsu's "Fūjin Raijin" and Sakai Hōitsu's "Summer and Autumn Grasses Folding Screen".

The "Summer and Autumn Grasses" was originally painted as the reverse side of "Fūjin Raijin Folding Screen" by Ogata Kōrin. On the reverse side of Raijin (the Thunder God), the artist depicted summer grasses wet from the rain, while on the reverse side of Fūjin (the Wind God), autumn grasses swaying in the wind are portrayed. The choice to depict "earthly flowers" in contrast to the "gods of the heavens" is one of how the artist expressed his deep admiration for Kōrin, embedding this respect in various aspects of the composition.

Mai-sen (舞扇子)
A Mai-sen is a traditional Japanese fan primarily used in classical dance performances, particularly in Kabuki and Noh theater. It is a folding fan, typically made of paper or silk, attached to a wooden frame. The Mai-sen is designed to be light and easy to handle, often painted with intricate and beautiful designs, which reflect the season or theme of the performance. Unlike other types of fans, Mai-sen is usually larger, and its elegant movements during performances are meant to enhance the choreography and express emotion.