Valentine 1880

Editor: This is Kate Greenaway’s “Valentine,” created in 1880 using watercolor and print on paper. It shows a couple in 18th-century dress, seemingly about to kiss beneath a rose-covered archway. The scene has such a lovely, dreamlike quality. What do you see in this piece beyond the surface? Curator: This Valentine presents a confectionary image of romance, but let’s consider its historical context. Greenaway was working within a Victorian society grappling with rapid industrialization and anxieties about gender roles. How might this idealized image of courtship serve as a form of escapism, perhaps a nostalgic longing for a simpler, more ‘romantic’ past? Editor: That's interesting, I hadn't thought of it in terms of escapism. Curator: Consider also the performativity of courtship displayed here. The woman’s fan, the man’s gesture – they're all coded. In what ways does the image reinforce or challenge conventional Victorian notions of femininity and masculinity? Is it truly innocent, or does it subtly critique the constraints placed upon individuals, particularly women, within the marriage market? Editor: I guess it’s a lot more layered than I initially thought. Maybe the almost staged nature of the image reflects the limited roles available to women at the time? Curator: Precisely. And how might Greenaway, as a woman artist navigating a male-dominated art world, be subtly commenting on these constraints through her aesthetic choices? Editor: I'm starting to see how it's about more than just a pretty picture; it's also a statement about gender and society in that era. Curator: Exactly. Looking at art through this lens allows us to consider not only its beauty but also its critical potential. Editor: I'll definitely approach artwork with these questions in mind going forward! Thanks!