Valentine 1876

Walter Crane created this Valentine using watercolor, ink, and graphite, adorned with delicate cut paper lace. We see a young couple in a pastoral setting: the man stands gesturing animatedly towards a blossoming tree, while the woman, seated demurely, holds a flower. The rose, clutched in the maiden's hand, is an ancient symbol, a token of love and beauty since antiquity. Think of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, often depicted adorned with roses, or the Roman tradition of offering roses to signal secrecy or confidentiality— sub rosa. This flower, and the amorous exchange depicted, remind us of the cyclical nature of human emotions. The act of gifting a flower, laden with meaning, transcends time, echoing through various cultures, resurfacing in courtly love rituals, medieval tapestries, and even modern-day expressions of affection. Each era imbues it with new significance, a dance between tradition and innovation, perpetually renewing the symbolic language of love.