Valentine 1845 - 1865

Editor: Here we have "Valentine," created sometime between 1845 and 1865. It’s a mixed-media piece, incorporating drawings and prints. It looks like something my grandmother might have cherished; sweet and old-fashioned. What's your take on this creation? Curator: You’re right, there’s a tangible sweetness. For me, it evokes a sort of 'love in the time of consumerism'… Early Valentine’s cards like this one were among the first mass-produced expressions of personal sentiment, really setting the stage for how we commercially express our feelings. Notice how meticulously assembled it is - all the layers of lace and those little figures. Editor: Absolutely. The layered lace is impressive! Howland, right? – used this lace a lot! The figures seem a bit stiff, almost like paper dolls… Did Howland design those too? Curator: That’s it! Yes, this is one of Esther Howland's creations. She was a true entrepreneur, the “Mother of the American Valentine,” mass-producing them, using these almost assembly-line techniques. The figures likely came from Europe. Imagine her, running a booming business, crafting heartfelt messages en masse…rather revolutionary at the time. Editor: So, this is both a romantic gesture and, in a way, a product of early industrialism? That's unexpected! Curator: Precisely! That push and pull between handmade and manufactured, personal and commercial, I find very compelling. It speaks to how love is never just one thing, doesn’t it? Howland managed to tap into a need for tangible sentimentality during a time of massive societal shift, using available technologies to manufacture art. Editor: It's fascinating how a simple Valentine can be so much more than just a pretty card. Thank you! Curator: And thank you for making me look at it in a new way too. It’s always rewarding when a seemingly simple object whispers complicated stories.