Untitled Valentine (Putti and Birds)

Art Historical Context

**Untitled Valentine (Put and Birds)** by Thomas Wood (1860/69) is a charming example of Victorian-era handmade greeting cards, crafted as a delicate collage on ivory wove paper with a pink wove insert. Measuring just 9 × 7.4 cm when folded this intimate piece from the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints Drawings collection features playful putti—cherubic figures symbolizing love—and birds, evoking the romantic whimsy of mid-19th-century courtship rituals. Wood employed meticulous paper-cutting and embossing techniques, creating raised, three-dimensional elements that add texture and depth to the flat sheet. This labor-intensive process highlights the artistry of pre-industrial valentines, where scissors, folds, and subtle coloring transformed everyday paper into treasured tokens of affection, before mass-produced cards dominated the market. In the 1860s, such handmade valentines were cultural staples in Britain and America, blending folk craft with sentimental symbolism. Wood's work reflects the era's emphasis on personal expression in romance, offering visitors a glimpse into the heartfelt ingenuity of Victorian love letters.