Valentine
1876
Medium
White card stock with gilding; chromolithography, gold lithography, openwork lace paper
Dimensions
Width: 4 15/16 in. (12.5 cm) Length: 6 11/16 in. (17 cm) Total size: 18.2 cm x 23 cm.
Classification
Ephemera|Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Richard Riddell, 1981
Accession Number
1981.1136.798
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the romantic world of Victorian England with *Valentine* (1876), a delicate greeting card crafted by Walter Crane, a leading figure in the Arts and Crafts movement. Known his intricate designs blending Pre-Raphaelite beauty with decorative flair, Crane elevated everyday ephemera into art. This piece, measuring about 7 x 9 inches when open, features lovers—men, women, and couples—in tender embrace, embodying the era's sentimental ideals of courtship. Printed on white card stock using chromolithography for vibrant colors and gold lithography for shimmering accents, the card incorporat...
About the Artist
Walter Crane
British artist, illustrator, and designer.