Valentine

Art Historical Context

**Valentine** by William P. Shearwood, created around 1936, is a delicate watercolor and graphite rendering on paperboard, measuring 29.8 x 22.9 cm. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Index of American Design collection, work exemplifies the meticulous documentation style of the era. Shearwood, an artist employed through the Works Progress Administration (WPA), captured the intricate details of a traditional American valentine—likely a folk art card or decorative object—evoking the sentimental charm of 19th-century romantic customs. The Index of American Design, launched in 1935 as part ...