The article discusses the evolution of Valentine's Day greeting cards from handmade creations to mass-produced items in the 19th century. By the 1860s, London saw over a million manufactured cards in circulation, highlighting a notable transformation in how emotions were expressed. Journalist Andrew Halliday's curiosity about the origins of these cards led him to explore the intersection of industrial processes and personal intimacy, revealing how societal changes influenced the way individuals communicated their feelings through commercial products.
Halliday's fascination with Valentine's Day cards highlights the shift from handmade to mass-produced greetings, demonstrating the interplay of industrial processes and personal emotions in Victorian society.
Manufactured cards, now widely circulated, transformed how emotions were expressed, marking a significant societal shift that blended artistic creativity with industrial production during Valentine's Day.
The increase in manufactured cards in the 19th century reflects broader changes in society, as the division of labor and industrialization influenced personal relationships and emotional exchanges.
Halliday's inquiry into the origins of these valentines underscores a deeper societal curiosity about the production of intimacy through commercial means, bridging art and emotion.
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