Valentine - Mechanical - Cupid and Target
ca. 1875
Medium
Heavy card stock, chromolithography, narrow red ribbon, red string, red bead
Dimensions
Width: 3 1/8 in. (8 cm) Length: 5 5/16 in. (13.5 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
1981.1136.878
Art Historical Context
This delightful "Valentine - Mechanical - Cupid Target," created anonymously by a British artist around 1875, captures the whimsical spirit of Victorian romance. During the 19th century, Valentine's Day cards exploded in popularity in Britain and America, evolving from handmade notes to mass-produced keepsakes sent through the post. This petite ephemera piece, measuring just 3⅛ by 5⅓ inches, was designed for easy mailing, reflecting the era's booming greeting card industry fueled by improved literacy and postal services. Crafted from heavy card stock using chromolithography—a pioneering color...