In nineteenth-century Japan the fan not only provided relief from the oppressive heat, it became a fashionable representation of summer. In theaters, fans were associated with dramatic moments; on the streets people carried fans bearing the marks of favorite actors. The fan also had a special place in prints—artists depicted them in many scenes, and some prints were also designed to be cut and fit onto a standard bamboo fan framework. Drawn from the Chazen’s Van Vleck Collection, this exhibition offers a refreshing look at an icon.