Untitled Valentine (Flowers)
1840/50
Medium
Collaged elements and watercolor on blue accented and embossed ivory wove paper
Dimensions
Folded sheet: 14.2 × 9.5 cm (5 5/8 × 3 3/4 in.)
Classification
valentine
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
75809
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints Drawings collection, *Untitled Valentine (Flowers is a charming mid-19th-century artifact from around 1840–1850. This intimate folded sheet, measuring just 14.2 × 9.5 cm when, features collaged elements and watercolor on luxurious blue-accented and embossed ivoryove paper. Its floral motif evokes the tender sentiments of Victorian romance, designed as a personal token of affection exchanged on Valentine's Day. During the 1840s and 1850s, Valentine's Day cards blossomed in popularity across Europe and America, bridging handwritten letters and th...
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...