Forget Me Not (valentine)

Art Historical Context

Created in the mid-19th century, *Forget Me Not (valentine)* by George Meek offers a glimpse into Victorian-era expressions of affection. Dating from 1850 to 1859, this intimate folded card measures just under five inches tall, making it a delicate keepsake designed to be tucked into an envelope or hand-delivered. The title evokes the popular language of flowers, where the forget-me-not symbolized true love and remembrance, a sentiment widely celebrated in the sentimental culture of the time. Meek’s work stands out for its inventive use of collage on cut and embossed ivory wove paper. Layers of carefully arranged elements transform a simple sheet into a textured, three-dimensional token. This technique highlights the era’s growing interest in paper crafts and personalized greetings, long before collage became an established fine-art medium in the 20th century. Such valentines were often handmade or assembled from printed scraps, reflecting both romantic feeling and the period’s expanding print culture. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago’s Prints and Drawings collection, the piece reminds us how everyday objects can carry lasting emotional and artistic value. Its modest scale and intricate construction invite viewers to appreciate the care invested in these small gestures of connection.