Four of Cups 1751

This is the 'Four of Cups' playing card, made by Claude Burdel in the 1700s, using woodcut and stencil with hand coloring. The process is clear to see: first, a design was carved into a woodblock, and printed to lay down the image. Then, color was added through stencils – simple masks laid over the print, allowing pigment to be brushed on only in certain areas. Look closely, and you can see how the orange, yellow and blue don’t quite line up with the black outlines. The result isn’t refined, but this was never the point. Playing cards like this were made cheaply, for a mass audience. The charm of this card lies in its directness. Burdel embraced the graphic quality of the woodcut. It’s a great reminder that techniques often associated with ‘craft’ have always played a central role in popular culture, creating a shared visual language.