Subdued by Your Superior Charms (valentine)
c. 1842
Medium
Lithograph in brown ink with hand-coloring on cream wove paper
Dimensions
Folded sheet: 22.5 × 18.7 cm (8 7/8 × 7 3/8 in.)
Classification
valentine
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
75455
Art Historical Context
"Subdued by Your Superiorms" is a charming Valentine card from around 1842, created by an unknown artist and now housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's and Drawings Department. During the early 19th century, Day greetings evolved from handwritten notes to mass-produced cards, reflecting the rise of sentimental romance in Victorian-era America and Britain. This folded sheet, measuring just 22.5 × 18.7 cm, captures that playful spirit with its witty title, evoking the era's flirtatious courtship customs where admirers expressed affection through clever verse and imagery. Printed as a lithogra...
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...