The fascinating gambling world has passed through the centuries, leaving a noticeable mark on culture. In ancient Greece and Rome, games enjoyed widespread popularity, with numerous artistic creations from that era depicting scenes of play. A notable example is a Roman mosaic of dice games housed in the Vatican Museum. This theme remains significant in contemporary art, spanning across painting, sculpture, literature, and film.
While gambling and art may appear to belong to entirely different domains, artists have consistently drawn upon the gambling experience, incorporating it into their creations over the years. Today, these works are regarded as valuable treasures. In this article, we will explore just a few of them. Each one holds a distinct significance, often transcending mere gambling themes, which enhances their depth and invites contemplation.
Cardsharps by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
At the end of the 16th century, the Italian master created a masterpiece that brought him real fame. By the way, this painting is considered to be Caravaggio’s first independent work. It depicts a naive young man in luxurious clothes playing cards with a cardsharper who has additional cards hidden in his belt.
In addition, the cheater uses an accomplice who spies on the victim’s cards. The dagger hanging from the sharper’s belt hints that the game is unlikely to end well for the victim. To date, this painting is on display at the Kimbell Art Museum, located in Fort Worth, USA.
Cheat with the Ace of Diamonds by Georges de La Tour
In contrast to the earlier piece by Caravaggio, the French painter’s artwork, created in the 1630s, shows an ambiguous outcome of the game. La Tour utilizes rich colors and detailed garments to create a captivating scene. What do we see? A woman, likely a courtesan, entices a wealthy but naive young man to join her at the gambling table, where she has an accomplice masquerading as an ordinary player.
Additionally, she has a maidservant who serves wine to the young man, aiming to lower his defenses. The rival opposing the wealthy young man is a true cheat, as indicated by the cards cleverly concealed behind his back. The cheat subtly turns his cards towards the audience, inviting them into the knowing complicity of the moment as the trio of the cheater, maid, and courtesan prepares to claim their victory.
Card Players by Paul Cezanne
Some artists were so fond of the casino games atmosphere of the time that they created a whole series of paintings. A notable instance is a series crafted by the French Post-Impressionist artist Paul Cézanne between 1890 and 1896. This collection consists of five pieces, four of which are housed in European and American museums.
The fifth painting, Card Players, was one of the most expensive artworks sold in the last century. In 2011, the Emir of Qatar acquired it for $250 million for his private collection. Recently, the government purchased it from a private owner and added it to the National Museum of Qatar.
At the Roulette Table in Monte Carlo by Edvard Munch
The famous expressionist Edvard Munch created several paintings dedicated to gambling, inspired by roulette during his stay in southern France. The casino atmosphere made a strong impression on him, which in 1892 led to this famous work. In his diary, Munch wrote: “I don’t recognize myself. Before, I liked to lie down longer, but now at night, I sleep only a few hours – in front of my eyes all the time, there are an emerald-green tablecloth and gold coins on it”.
The artist masterfully transmits the tension at the gaming table, where the game results can have serious consequences. Today, this work can be seen in the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway’s capital.
Dogs Playing Poker by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge
The artist created an interesting variation of paintings dedicated to gambling. It became a true standard of kitsch art, whose work was actively imitated and copied. In the series Dogs Playing Poker, the author created 16 artworks from the mid-1900s to the mid-1910s. Brown & Bigelow commissioned the series to advertise cigars, and it additionally glorified an already popular card game.
In the artworks, all figures characterize brutal dogs drinking alcohol, smoking cigars and playing poker. The expressive emotions on the animals’ faces, glasses with alcohol, smoking pipes — all this emphasizes the special atmosphere that reigns in poker clubs. Coolidge’s works became popular in the US and were often used to create parodies. In 2005, at a New York auction, two paintings from this series were sold to a private collection for $590,400.
Le Tripot by Jean-Eugène Buland
This painting, created in 1883, is one of the most realistic works about casino regulars. Buland depicted a group of people in front of the gaming table, demonstrating the richness of the characters. Among the players who stand out are an insightful older lady, a rich playboy with a cigar, a successful banker and moneylender, a penniless student, and female viewers.
The dark interior, smoky air and dim light create a mysterious atmosphere, reinforcing the characters’ emotions. The faces in the picture reflect the focus and tension that players feel at the table. The outcome of the game will be known soon, and for some, it will be the last bet. It is an intense and thought-provoking work, a painting worth admiring for its exceptional quality, plot and composition.
Slot Machine Queen by Shelly Wilkerson
Modern artists have not spared the topic of gambling either. In 2011, American painter Shelly Wilkerson created this painting, which illustrates the evolution of gambling entertainment: from cards to slots. And it’s also a picture of the positive emotions that casinos can give. The main thing here is that gambling should be perceived as a way of entertainment, nothing more. And the older lady depicted in the painting understands this perfectly well. The work quickly became known online and is one of the most popular paintings dedicated to slot machines.
The Future of Gambling and Art
Gambling has remained an exciting topic for art for centuries, inspiring artists to create masterpieces that reflect the sharp emotions and drama of the game process. Each artwork reflects the author’s unique view of game culture and discusses the social phenomena of their time. From classical Greco-Roman art to modern artistic directions, gambling has been an important part of cultural history.
In light of the continued growth of the online casinos and gambling industry, it will be fascinating to see how the artist’s creativity will influence its further development. With the increasing popularity of games and the introduction of new technologies such as virtual reality, creators will open up new horizons for creating works that can convey excitement and drama in original ways.