Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Print of the Day: Le Jeu De Cartes, 19th C.

Le Jeu de Cartes
L.L. Boilly, Nineteenth Century
The Victoria & Albert Museum


This color lithograph entitled, “Le Jeu De Cartes” is the work of Louis Léopold Boilly (1761-1845), a French painter of portraits and social subjects who favored scenes of street life and popular pastimes.

Boilly was also a notable engraver and lithographer whose works were highly regarded in the early to mid Nineteenth Century.  This print is an excellent example of his work.  Here, Boilly depicts a group of working men who have gathered in a bar or inn to drink, smoke and play cards. The artist shows his masterful attention to detail in the faces and clothing of the men. 

Four of the men are playing cards and smoking as others observe the game from behind.  Seated separately, at another table to the right, two drinkers are being served by a barman. A curious dog is shown in right foreground, looking for scraps and attention.

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