Valentine
1881
Medium
White glossy card stock, with chromolithography in colors and gold.
Dimensions
Width: 6 1/4 in. (15.9 cm) Length: 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm)
Classification
Ephemera|Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Richard Riddell, 1981
Accession Number
1981.1136.782
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the charming world of Victorian romance with *Valentine* (1881), a delicate greeting card by celebrated illustrator Kate Greenaway. Crafted on white glossy card stock using chromolithography in vibrant colors and gold accents, this petite piece measures just 6 1/4 by 3 1/8 inches, perfect for slipping into an envelope. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Drawings and Prints, it exemplifies ephemera—those everyday treasures that capture fleeting emotions. Greenaway, a leading figure in late 19th-century British illustration, was renowned for her soft, whimsical style influenced b...
About the Artist
Kate Greenaway · 1846–1901
Kate Greenaway (1846–1901) was a British artist and writer who became one of the most beloved children's book illustrators of the Victorian era and a significant influence on children's fashion and popular culture. Born Catherine Greenaway in Hoxton, London, she studied at the Slade School of Fine Art and the Royal Female School of Art, and began her career designing greeting cards and magazine il...