Sweet is the Breath of Early Morn (valentine)
c. 1842
Medium
Lithograph in brown ink with hand-coloring on cream wove paper
Dimensions
Folded sheet: 22.8 × 18.7 cm (9 × 7 3/8 in.)
Classification
valentine
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
75417
Art Historical Context
**Sweet is the Breath of Early Morn (valentine)** *c. 1842, Lithograph in brown ink with hand-coloring on cream wove paper* *Art Institute of Chicago, Prints and Drawings Department* Step into the sentimental world of 19th-century romance with this charming valentine, created around 1842. In an era when Valentine's Day was blossoming into a popular tradition—thanks to mass-produced cards—this folded sheet captures the era's poetic affection. The evocative title, *Sweet is the Breath of Early Morn*, evokes the fresh, tender imagery of dawn, a common motif in Victorian-era love tokens that ...
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...