Valentine - Mechanical bouquet, holidays, wedding 1870 - 1880

Editor: This is a beautiful print, titled "Valentine - Mechanical bouquet, holidays, wedding," dating from 1870 to 1880, and housed here at the Met. The identity of the artist is unknown. I'm really drawn to how vibrant it is, especially given its age. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: It’s interesting how these Valentine images became potent carriers of emotion. This bouquet, so carefully arranged, speaks volumes. What do you see as the defining characteristics of bouquets in romantic expression? Editor: Well, obviously the flowers represent love and beauty. The colours, too, seem intentional, don’t they? Each one feels significant, but it's hard to tell what it represents, though. Curator: Indeed, colours and specific flower types were heavily coded. Red roses, obviously, signalled passion. But consider the forget-me-nots— tiny, blue whispers of remembrance, enduring affection. The lily of the valley suggested purity, sweetness. Do you think the mechanical nature—the print itself— alters this language? Editor: That’s a good question. Perhaps the printing makes it less personal, more of a mass-produced sentiment? Although the very existence of mass production allowed sentiments to reach so many more people. Curator: Exactly. The mechanization enables a democratization of emotion. How interesting that an object intended to convey personal feelings also reveals so much about shifting social structures of the late 19th century. It reflects evolving modes of communication in interpersonal relationships and broader shifts in social behaviour. Editor: It's amazing to see how something seemingly simple, like a Valentine, can have such a complex story to tell. Thanks for opening my eyes to these different levels of meaning! Curator: My pleasure! These artifacts become vessels filled with symbolic associations from the past. Hopefully they help us reflect on the way love has evolved through generations.