Seven of Swords 1751

Editor: Here we have Claude Burdel’s “Seven of Swords,” a 1751 print utilizing etching and intaglio. There’s a real formality and starkness to it… almost unsettling. What strikes you most when you look at this, professor? Curator: The violence inherent in the imagery of swords cannot be ignored, yet, the careful geometric arrangement and patterning create a distancing effect. How can we reconcile this? Think about 18th-century European society. Burdel was producing this during a period of Enlightenment, yet also one deeply structured by hierarchy and often, oppression. Does the visual harmony here mask a deeper, more unsettling tension inherent in the societal structures of the time? Editor: That’s a really interesting point. It makes me think about how the symbolism of swords could represent not just literal violence but also systemic power, which you suggest is sugar-coated for easier consumption? Curator: Exactly. Consider who would have been buying and using these cards. For whom was this imagery intended, and what narratives were they internalizing through its use? Was it reinforcing or subtly questioning the existing power dynamics? Editor: So, it’s not just about what's depicted, but who is consuming the image and how it impacts their perception of power. Curator: Precisely. And even how we today, centuries later, continue to interact with these layered symbols. Editor: It definitely makes me consider art’s role in both reflecting and perpetuating societal norms, especially regarding the ethics around power structures and even violence. Curator: And that critical self-awareness is vital. Thanks for the opportunity to connect past and present concerns, viewing a playing card through such timely context.