Valentine 1877

This is an undated Christmas card, made by an anonymous artist. These sorts of commercial cards were made possible by the rise of industrialization and printmaking, creating a whole new industry around the holiday. Here, a cherubic toddler, or doll, is dressed in a pink coat with fur trim. Often, children were seen as emblems of purity, innocence, and the future. Here we can see how childhood becomes a cultural script projected on an idealized image of whiteness. The doll and the sentimental message suggest a demographic of middle-class white families celebrating Christmas in their home. Interestingly, many of these Christmas traditions were popularized during a time of immense social change, when many people were moving into cities and working in factories. The idea of a cozy family celebration offered a powerful message of comfort and stability in a rapidly changing world.