Conder began to paint fan designs in 1893, gaining a reputation for his work in this genre. He was indebted to French 18th-century fan designs, and to Japanese and Chinese art where the fan shape was common, but he developed his own unique approach. The fluidity of the wash and the fine surface of the silk enabled him to achieve subtle hues and delicate outlines, which suited his fanciful subjects. He could work quickly and with greater spontaneity in these works than he could when painting in oil on canvas.