Party of Armenians Playing Cards c. 1720 - 1737

Jean Baptiste Vanmour, a painter from the 17th and 18th century, created "Party of Armenians Playing Cards" with oil on canvas. Vanmour was commissioned as a court painter to the Ottoman Empire at a time when Europe was keenly interested in the "exotic" cultures of the East. In the painting, the artist shows us a room full of Armenian women and men gathered around a table, fully immersed in a game of cards. There is a sense of communal intimacy. The painting offers insight into the social lives of Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire, a community with its own distinct cultural identity. Vanmour's work occupies a space between objective documentation and subjective interpretation. The artist's gaze captures the nuances of cultural exchange and the complexities of identity formation in a globalized world. The artwork serves as a window into a specific time and place, prompting us to reflect on our own cultural encounters.