And Can You Think (valentine)

Art Historical Context

Step into the romantic world of Victorian sentiment with *And Can You Think (entine)*, a charming lithograph created around 1850 by George Kershaw. delicate folded sheet, measuring just 19.3 × 12.2 cm, was hand-colored on cut and embossed ivory paper, transforming a simple print into a tactile treasure. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings department, it exemplifies the era's mass-produced yet artisanal valentines—intimate tokens exchanged during courtship rituals. In mid-19th-century Britain and America, valentines like this one captured the height of romantic nostalgia, blending poetry, hearts, and elaborate designs to express affection. Kershaw's work reflects the commercialization of love, as lithography enabled affordable reproduction while hand-coloring and embossing added luxurious, personalized flair. The ivory paper's subtle sheen and pop-up elements invited admirers to touch and unfold layers of emotion, making it a multisensory declaration of devotion. This valentine not only showcases innovative print techniques but also preserves a slice of social history, revealing how everyday people navigated romance amid the Industrial Revolution's innovations. A sweet reminder of love's enduring artistry!

About the Artist

George Kershaw

George Kershaw is an artist whose works have been preserved in museum collections in meaningful quantity, pointing to a genuine career and a recognized body of output, even though the biographical details that would identify his nationality, training, and active period have not been established in the sources currently available. The absence of nationality information alongside the absence of date...