Untitled Valentine (Cupid and Butterflies) 1860s

This paper Valentine, by Berlin and Jones, is a reminder of the social rituals around courtship, and how love became increasingly commodified throughout the 19th century in both Europe and America. The paper filigree framing the central image of cupid would have been manufactured industrially, and the cupid design would have been chosen from a pattern book. Advances in printing and paper production allowed for the mass production of such items, influencing social practices and popular culture. Valentine's Day, in particular, became a booming business, with companies like Berlin and Jones capitalizing on the Victorian obsession with sentimentality and romantic expression. The creation and distribution of these cards also involved a network of artists, printers, and retailers. Studying these objects helps us to look at the intersection of art, commerce, and social life in the past. Examining trade catalogues and business records sheds light on how such industries operated. Ultimately, the meaning of such art is contingent on its social and institutional context.