Valentine 1874

Kate Greenaway created this Valentine in 1874 using watercolor and ink, offering a glimpse into the Victorian era's sentimental expressions of love and affection. The card's idyllic scene of childhood romance, complete with cherubic figures under an umbrella and dancing fairies, speaks volumes about the values of the time. Consider England's burgeoning middle class and its yearning for an idealized vision of innocence and domestic bliss. The presence of fairies situates it in a world of fantasy and imagination, but one should remember the commercial context for such imagery. Greenaway produced the card during an explosion in the market for illustrated books and periodicals. We need to see such images as commodities produced within a complex marketplace. Letters, diaries, and business records become essential tools for any art historian hoping to understand the image’s place in the culture of Victorian England.