Dogs playing poker and other paintings about gambling

Gambling and art may seem distant from each other. However, for many years, artists have depicted the world of gambling in their works of art. And today these works of art have become invaluable. We will describe below PepperMill’s favorite gambling-related paintings.

“Dogs playing poker”: a well-known series of paintings

In the series "Dogs playing poker are 18 canvases painted in the mid-20th century, commissioned to promote cigars and made the game of poker even more famous. In the artist's works, all the protagonists are depicted as humanized dogs playing poker. There are expressive emotions on the faces of the animals, cups, and pipes: all this shows the special atmosphere prevailing in poker clubs. The paintings spread to the United States as examples of kitsch art. In 2005, at an auction in New York, 2 paintings from the series were sold for $590,400 to a private collector.

"I Bari": a famous Italian painting from 1594

The famous painting "I Bari" (‘The Cardsharps’) was painted in 1594. It is undoubtedly one of the most popular paintings on this theme. The painting is dedicated to gambling in Italy and tells the story of a naive young man who had to confront two swindlers. The dagger in the belt of one of them hints at the possible outcome of the swindle. However, they are united by a common drama in which they all play a part. The painting is now in the United States, in the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth.

“The Cheat": a portrait of women playing cards

Another painting that has also achieved great success over the years is “The Card Sharp with the Ace of Diamonds” also known as "The Cheat". Executed between 1626 and 1629, it depicts women playing cards. Inside the painting is a man, the cheat, who is about to remove two aces from his belt, taking advantage of the moment of general distraction at the table.

"Card players arguing": a work from the Dutch Golden Age

"Card Players Arguing" is one of the most beautiful and important paintings of the Dutch Golden Age. It is interesting to note that this work was only painted in the second half of the 17th century.

It is easy to see how, within the painting, there is a discussion between two card players. Ultimately, the aim was to depict on canvas the emotions and situations that occurred quite frequently in everyday life at that time.

As with "Dogs Playing Cards", this is a very well-known work.

"At the roulette table in Monte Carlo", a work about the atmosphere in casinos

A well-known expressionist artist devoted several paintings to gambling after becoming interested in roulette during his stay in the South of France.

He was fascinated by the atmosphere of casinos, which led to the creation of this marvelous work of art in 1892: "At the roulette table in Monte Carlo". Edvard Munch, famous for the painting “The Scream”, captured the drama of roulette, and conveyed the nervous tension at the gaming table, where losing or winning can have fatal consequences. Today, the painting can be seen in the Munch Museum in the Norwegian capital, Oslo.

“The Card Players”, a classic of art and gaming

The series “Card Players’’ includes five paintings united by one theme: a card game. It was painted between 1890 and 1896. Here the artist depicts the life and leisure time of the peasants and their simple lifestyles.

In this work we do not see passion, but a routine life: the players seem to be wasting their time playing cards.

Four paintings from this series are in museums in Europe and America. The fifth painting belonged for a long time to a private collection until it was bought by the Qatari authorities for the National Museum.

It is thus another painting that is quite well known to the public, just as “Dogs Playing Poker”.

"Soldiers playing cards", a cubist-style canvas

The painting, by a French impressionist in the cubist style, depicts three soldiers playing cards. Each soldier, depicted in separate parts, resembles a robot. This work was executed by the artist in 1917 and underlines his commitment to the use of mechanization in the First World War.

The painting, Soldiers Playing Cards, is now in the Kreller Muller Museum in Otterlo, the Netherlands.

"Queen of the slot machine": the portrait of the evolution of gambling

Contemporary artists have not ignored the theme of gambling. In 2011, a cartoon "Queen of the slot machine" was created which, through cartoon-style illustrations, demonstrates the evolution of gambling: from cards to today's slot machines. The work quickly became known online and is one of the most popular paintings dedicated to slot machines.

Each of the artists interpreted gambling in their own way: some condemned gambling, others simply showed the ordinary life of their time through the canvases. Besides, they revealed various aspects of gambling entertainment after they visited the casino: emotions, and characteristics of interactions between players and the croupier. So, if you want to feel the same, try your luck at PepperMill Casino. But remember the most important rule when gambling: playing responsibly is the best way to enjoy gambling.