Turkey, from "Court Game of Geography" 1838 - 1855

This is "Turkey, from Court Game of Geography," made by William and Henry Rock, likely sometime in the mid-19th century, out of paper and ink. The Rock brothers were printmakers, working in a world increasingly shaped by industrial production. This card is an example of chromolithography, a printing technique that allowed for the mass production of colorful images. But what does it mean to make a game out of geography? By turning nations into playing cards, the Rock brothers transformed complex geopolitical realities into a form of entertainment and, implicitly, a form of knowledge. The crisp lines and bright colors, made possible by chromolithography, present a simplified, almost sanitized, view of the world. It's a reminder that even seemingly innocent objects like playing cards can reflect broader social and political forces. So next time you shuffle a deck of cards, consider the hidden layers of meaning they might contain.