Painting about playing cards

Case : 135

The playing cards became very popular throughout Europe soon. However, there were also the usual problems as quarrel at play or that people were driven by gambling debts in bankruptcy. This is reflected by the artistic representations showing a certain dualism. On the one hand, card games are a pleasant pastime, which were enjoyed by people from all social backgrounds, from riches (The card players by M.L. van Leyden, c.1500) to poors (), from elites (Les Joueurs de Cartes of Paul Cézanne, c.1900) to soldiers (Soldiers playing cards by V. de Boulogne, c.1620 ) and even women. On the other hand, the game was off ill repute, was even sometimes considered as a devilish vice (The Cardsharps of M.M.da Caravaggio, c.1600), which could lead to ruin (Peasants Browling over Cards of Adriaen Brouwer, c.1630), murder (End of a game of cards of J-L-E. Meissonier, 1856)  and manslaughter.