Valentine 1847 - 1870

This Valentine card was crafted by Esther Howland, its delicate details capturing the sentimental essence of its time. Observe the central figure, a girl embracing a cross adorned with a heart. This cross, typically a symbol of Christian sacrifice, is softened here. We see it as a transformation, a fusion with the heart, representing love, and devotion. It echoes similar transformations of religious symbols found in earlier Renaissance art. The image evokes a sense of innocence and purity, drawing upon our collective memory of childhood as a state of unspoiled grace. Consider the ornate lace surrounding the scene; its intricate patterns are like a protective shield, perhaps a visual representation of the tender emotions one might want to safeguard in matters of the heart. The flowers above, and the scene below with the dog house, evoke a sense of comfort, home, and the sweet joy of domestic bliss. Such motifs, born from deep-seated human desires and fears, reappear throughout history, each time colored by the nuances of its era.