Forget Me Not (valentine) 1840 - 1860

Curator: Welcome to The Art Institute of Chicago. Today, we are exploring a mid-19th century English valentine. It’s a lovely little artwork by John Windsor titled “Forget Me Not.” Editor: Intricate! The layered paper creates a compelling sense of depth and the die-cut shapes create a fascinating interplay between positive and negative space. The colour, a bright purple, seems at odds with the overall theme. Curator: That layered paper construction reflects the popular Victorian craft of paper cutting, often used to create intricate, personalized cards like this. Such items reflected a growing middle class with access to new forms of consumer goods and postal services which redefined courtship. The “Forget me not” text underscores sentimental bonds increasingly detached from landed property considerations, in other words. Editor: Absolutely. Looking closer, the silhouettes become particularly intriguing. The artist cleverly employs symmetry and repetition – the butterflies mirror each other, the trees frame the central scene. It almost feels like a stage set, which speaks volumes about constructed romantic ideal. Note the contrast between the colour applied in specific areas to amplify this symmetry of components Curator: Exactly, and we see familiar visual tropes like butterflies that symbolise transformation and rebirth, alongside floral elements expressing devotion and eternal love within that symbolic structure. Consider the “Love” inscription on the ring that joins the composition. Editor: It's fascinating how the central couple, almost obscured, become secondary to the surrounding ornamentation and textual plea: "Forget me not". The entire construction almost smothers the sentiment it intends to convey, resulting in what we might call an emotional paradox! Curator: I find your paradox very interesting, the use of ornamentation may, indeed, emphasize its importance! It underscores that while sentimental gestures became more accessible, the anxieties surrounding the permanence of relationships did not. Editor: So, a decorative surface barely masking deep-seated fears of being forgotten. I leave this artwork pondering its visual textures and implied, contradictory message! Curator: Indeed. An enduring testament to both artistry and anxiety. Thank you for joining me on this exploration!