Art's Last Bow

The red heart is one of the most common emojis ( third most popular in 2022 ). We all use this symbol at some point to show affection, care, or friendliness, no matter whether we choose trendy hearts of all sorts of different colors or simply stick to the conventional red heart emoji. Before the heart became an emoji though, this symbol has been used for centuries. But when did it first appear in the form we’re familiar with? After all, it bears little resemblance to the actual, anatomical human organ that pumps blood throughout our bodies. And when did it start being used in art? While most people associate the heart symbol with mushy Victorian Valentine’s cards (in company with chubby little cupids), it first appears in art in the Middle Ages. The ideals of chivalry and courtly love as developed by the educated scholars and troubadours of the ducal courts of Aquitaine, Provence, and Burgundy required befitting illustrations. The earliest known image of the human heart as a ...