Valentine

Art Historical Context

Step into the charming world of Victorian sentiment with *Valentine* (1876), a delicate greeting card by celebrated British artist Kate Greenaway. Known for her enchanting illustrations of children and scenes, Greenaway captured the era's romantic nostalgia through her work in books and ephemera. This piece, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Drawings and Prints, exemplifies her talent for transforming everyday objects into treasures of affection. Crafted from white card stock with gilding, card employs chromolithography for colors, gold lithography for shimmering accents, and openwork lace paper for intricate, lace-like cutouts. Measuring about 7 x 9 inches when fully opened (18.2 x 23 cm), its luxurious techniques elevated mass-produced valentines during the 1870s boom in sentimental stationery. Classification as ephemera highlights its original disposable nature—meant to be sent, cherished briefly, then discarded—yet its survival as a print underscores enduring appeal. Greenaway's designs, often tagged with women for their feminine motifs, reflected Victorian ideals of innocence and elegance, making this a cultural snapshot of courtship rituals. A gift to the Met in 1981, it invites us to savor the artistry in fleeting expressions of love.

About the Artist

Kate Greenaway · 1846–1901

Kate Greenaway (1846–1901) was a British artist and writer who became one of the most beloved children's book illustrators of the Victorian era and a significant influence on children's fashion and popular culture. Born Catherine Greenaway in Hoxton, London, she studied at the Slade School of Fine Art and the Royal Female School of Art, and began her career designing greeting cards and magazine il...