Hab.t du Méxique from playing cards "Jeu d'Or" 18th century

This playing card, "Hab.t du Mexique," was part of a "Jeu d'Or" deck created anonymously, its production shaped by the cultural and political forces of its time. The image presents a romanticized vision of a Mexican inhabitant, complete with indigenous clothing and a rustic setting. The French text framing the image hints at the complex relationship between Europe and the Americas, and colonialism at the time. Produced at a time of increasing cultural exchange and colonial expansion, playing cards like these became a tool for disseminating information and shaping perceptions of distant lands and people. The inclusion of a Mexican figure in a deck of playing cards speaks volumes about the growing awareness of, and perhaps fascination with, the Americas in European society. To fully grasp the significance of this playing card, we need to examine the historical context in which it was created, using resources such as trade records and colonial archives. In doing so, we appreciate how art objects like this became vital players in the game of cultural representation and exchange.