A Game of Cards
1767
Medium
pen and brown ink with brown wash and white heightening over graphite on laid paper
Dimensions
overall: 17.6 x 23.3 cm (6 15/16 x 9 3/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Lewis Einstein
Accession Number
1954.17.3
Art Historical Context
Louis Durameau’s “A Game of Cards,” created in 1767, offers a charming glimpse into eighteenth-century French social life. Executed in pen and brown ink with brown wash and white heightening over graphite on laid paper, the drawing captures figures engaged in a leisurely card game. This intimate scene reflects the period’s fascination with everyday pastimes among the middle and upper classes, where such games served as both entertainment and subtle displays of wit and status. The medium itself highlights Durameau’s technical skill. The combination of precise pen lines, fluid washes for tonal ...