Forever Thine Love (valentine)
c. 1850
Medium
Collaged elements and watercolor, with pen and blue ink on cut and embossed ivory wove paper (lace)
Dimensions
Folded sheet: 13.5 × 9.2 cm (5 3/8 × 3 5/8 in.)
Classification
valentine
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
75818
Art Historical Context
Step into the romantic world of Victorian sentiment with *Forever Thine Love*, delicate valentine crafted around 1850 by an unknown artist. This charming folded sheet, measuring just 13.5 × 9.2 cm, was designed as a portable token of affection, perfect for slipping into a pocket or mailing to a sweetheart. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's and Drawings department, it the era's obsession with elaborate, handmade expressions of love. The artwork's ingenuity shines in its mixed media: collaged elements and watercolor paired with pen and blue ink on cut and embossed ivory wove paper, mimic...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...