Valentine 1859 - 1869

Editor: So, this is a piece titled "Valentine," made sometime between 1859 and 1869. It's an anonymous mixed-media collage, full of intricate paper cuttings and what looks like prints. I am struck by the density of the ornamentation – almost overwhelmingly decorative. What strikes you about this piece? Art Historian: This Valentine resonates with Victorian sentimental culture. Think about the social construction of romance during that era. It was about idealized love, but often mediated through rigid social conventions, where expressions of emotion were often heavily coded. How might that tension be reflected in the piece's excessive ornamentation, as you put it? Editor: You mean that all this ornamentation could be masking something simpler, or perhaps a real lack of genuine sentiment? Art Historian: Precisely. And look closely at the images: what stories are they telling? Are these cherubic figures and paired birds representing equality, beauty and love or reflecting power structures related to class, gender and race? It is worth pondering whether those deemed worthy of "ideal love" enjoyed privilege at the expense of other groups. Consider, too, that Valentine’s cards like these often offered one of the few avenues for women to express emotions in a male-dominated society. Editor: That’s a very different perspective than what I initially thought. It is definitely a reminder that even seemingly simple works can be connected to broader social issues. Art Historian: Art gives us so much insight into how feelings, and objects associated with feelings, can participate in, reflect, and push back against the status quo. Thinking about art in relation to life is key. I’m so glad we’ve taken the time to really deconstruct how "Valentine" participates in social constructions.