Untitled Valentine (Woman Holding Letter)
c. 1850
Medium
Gold and silver paint and collaged elements on cut and enbossed paper (lace)
Dimensions
Folded sheet: 24.7 × 20 cm (9 3/4 × 7 7/8 in.)
Classification
valentine
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
75601
Art Historical Context
Step into the romantic world of Victorian sentiment with *Untitled Valentine (Woman Holding Letter)*, a delicate treasure from around 1850 now housed in Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings. This folded sheet, measuring about 9 3/4 × 7 7/8 inches, captures the era's passion for handmade expressions of love. Created by an unknown artist, it depicts a woman tenderly holding a letter—likely a symbol of heartfelt affection exchanged on Valentine's Day. The artwork's charm lies in its intricate craftsmanship: gold and silver shimmer alongside collaged elements on cut and embossed paper c...
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...