Greeting Card 1866

This small greeting card, likely made with ink and watercolor in the mid-19th century by Charles Henry Bennett, offers a glimpse into Victorian holiday traditions and societal norms. At first glance, the image presents three figures under a garland that reads "A Happy New Year," juxtaposed with the words "Christmas Bells" on the bottom. These figures, rendered with caricatured faces, are cloaked and stand on what appears to be a stand. Their identities remain ambiguous. Are they carolers, or perhaps figures from a holiday pantomime, a popular form of entertainment at the time? The card prompts us to think about the role of such images in shaping cultural perceptions. In a rapidly industrializing society, the rise of mass-produced cards like these provided a way for people to express sentiments, but also reinforced certain social hierarchies. The card's charm is undeniable, yet it also leaves us with lingering questions about who is included, and who is excluded, in its vision of holiday cheer.