Valentine
1874
Medium
White card with embossed, scalloped border; chromolithography, gold lithography
Dimensions
Width: 4 15/16 in. (12.5 cm) Length: 6 3/4 in. (17.1 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
1981.1136.810
Tags
Art Historical Context
Kate Greenaway's *Valentine* (1874) is a charming example of Victorian-era ephemera, designed as delicate greeting card measuring just 4 15/16 by 6 3/4 inches. Produced during the height of Valentine's Day popularity in Britain, piece captures Greenaway's signature style: tender, idealized depictions of children—boys and girls often dressed in Regency-inspired costumes—frollicking amid whimsical fairies. Tags suggest it features poetic verses alongside these enchanting figures, evoking innocence and romance. Crafted on white cardstock with an embossed, scalloped border for a luxurious tactile...
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...