Valentine

Art Historical Context

Kate Greenaway's *Valentine* (1876) is a charming example of Victorian-era ephemera, designed as a delicate greeting card to celebrate love on Valentine's Day. Measuring just 2⅛ x 3⅛ inches when folded inside its larger 14 x 18.2 cm envelope, this petite treasure features embossed borders, gilded accents, and tender illustrations of boys, girls, and doves—symbols of innocence and affection. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, it reflects Greenaway's signature style: whimsical children in Regency-inspired costumes, evoking a nostalgic, pastoral idyll. In the 1870s, mass-produced Valentine's cards were surging in popularity thanks to advances in printing, transforming personal sentiment into accessible luxury. Greenaway, a pioneering illustrator of children's books like *Under the Window* (1879), helped elevate these cards into artful keepsakes. Her work blended sentimentality with subtle social commentary on childhood purity amid industrialization. Crafted with chromolithography for vibrant colors, gold lithography for shimmering details, and ink on white card stock, *Valentine* showcases innovative techniques that made ornate designs affordable. This gift to the Met from Mrs. Richard Riddell in 1981 preserves a slice of romantic ritual, inviting us to appreciate the era's blend of technology and heartfelt expression.

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...