Accept this Offering (valentine)
c. 1850
Medium
Lithograph with hand-coloring on cut and embossed ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Folded sheet: 19.7 × 12.4 cm (7 13/16 × 4 15/16 in.)
Classification
valentine
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
75710
Art Historical Context
"Accept this Offering," a charming valentine created around 1850 by British artist Joseph Addenbrooke captures the sentimental spirit of Victorian romance. Folded to a compact 19.7 × 12.4 cm, this delicate piece from the Art Institute of Chicago Prints and Drawings collection invites recipients to unfold layers of affection, embodying the era's elaborate courtship customs. Addenbrooke, renowned for his intricate paper valentines, transformed simple greetings into miniature works of art, blending commercial printing with artisanal flair. Printed as a lithograph—a technique that allowed precise...