Valentine 1845 - 1875

This delicate Valentine, whose maker is unknown, is preserved in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It’s a poignant artifact, reflecting the gendered expectations of courtship and love. This type of card was popular during a time when social mores placed women in a passive role within romantic relationships, where their identities were often defined by sentimental and decorative expressions of affection. The lace and floral motifs speak to an idealized femininity while the central image of a seated woman hints at the domestic sphere to which women were relegated. Receiving a valentine like this would have been an intensely personal experience. The sender, by choosing such an elaborate token, was participating in a social ritual as well as expressing their own emotions. The very act of giving and receiving served to reinforce societal norms around love, gender, and class.