The industrial revolution of the late nineteenth century brought to life
the fundamental economic changes, rapid growth of mass production
and the consumer society. Introduction of new printing equipment and
implementation of photo-mechanical transfer made mass-reproduction
possible and contributed to the transformation of the role of visual image
from primarily a decorative component of the environment into a
significant instrument of transmitting information and ideas.

The sensitivity of modern artists to social needs, often combined
with a Utopian personal belief that art can transform society and life,
inspired innovative artistic searches directed toward the creation of
mass produced every- day objects that stressed the practicality of art.

The latest examples of artists' playing cards demonstrate the
extraordinary range and talent of card designers of our time, and
document changes in the aesthetics and practices of contemporary art
as well as the social life of the community.

Pop-Up the window for better view
of 20th Century Artists' Playing Cards

1/ Ditha Moser [Austria, 1905/06]
2/ Ruth Kedar "The Analog Deck" [USA, 1989]
3/ Elena Kitajeva [Russia, 1992]
4/ Donald Sultan [USA, 1989]

5/ Gertrud Kumpel-Amsler "Vitrail Bridge"[Switzerland, 1991]
6/ (Anonimous) Conceptual Art from Spain: Cards Coated Plastic.
7/ Edward Gorey "The Fantod Pack" [USA, 1995]
8/ Helene Bouboulis "Tarot of the Revolution" [France, 1989]

9/ Mariano Claver Lacambra "Surrealist Game" [Spain, 1990]
10/ From surrealist deck designed collectively [France, 1941]
11/ Karl Korab [Austria, c.1975]
12/ Ed Paschke From "A Game of Chance" designed collectively [USA, 1998]

13/ ("Neue Kritik" Publ.) Political Deck [Germany, c.1985]
14/ Nicky Taylor for BBC [England, 1996]
15/ Max Velthuijs for KLM [Belgium, 1964]
16/ Laurence Caiazzo & Pica-Cicero-Scop [France, 1985]

17/ Art Deco [ca. 1930?]
18/ Surrealism / Taro Okamoto [Japan]
19/ Modern Japanese cards inspired by Classical Art and Portuguese
card game ["Karuta"] introduced to Japan in XVII century
20/ Fantastic Realism / Bjorn Winblad [Denmark, ca.1980]
Top of page: Kumi Sugai [Japan/France, 1972]

***
PLAYING CARDS LINKS :
The International Playing-Card Society
52 Plus Joker
The English Playing Card Society
The Bob Lancaster Gallery of Unusual Playing Cards

***

Above: Vassili Choukhaeff's illustration for "The Queen of Spades" by A. Pushkin [Editions de la Pleiade, Paris, 1928],
and Andre Derain's illustration for Rabelais' "Pantagruel" [1943] inspired by medieval playing cards


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