F. d' Armenie from playing cards "Jeu d'Or" 18th century

Editor: We’re looking at "F. d'Armenie from playing cards 'Jeu d'Or'," an 18th-century etching and engraving now at the Met. The figure looks exotic, almost like an actress in a play. I’m curious, how does this image function within its cultural context? Curator: That’s a key question. These “Jeu d’Or” cards weren’t just for games; they reflect a growing European fascination with, and often misrepresentation of, different cultures. This "Armenian Woman," is part of a broader trend of depicting exoticized versions of people from around the world, fueled by exploration and colonialism. The card presents an idea of Armenia filtered through a European lens. Notice the details – the specific colours of her clothing. Editor: The card's text at the top says: “Because I take you for company.” That line plus the vibrant clothing do lend themselves to a sense of imagined culture. Is that text always tied to the Armenian woman across this playing card series? Curator: Exactly. This particular card uses imagery and text to position the Armenian woman in a particular relationship to the viewer. The phrase itself places the “othered” figure within a frame of entertainment, almost as an object for leisure rather than a member of contemporary society. I ask you to also reflect upon how the composition itself also positions her within that type of frame, especially alongside the numbers in the card and other decorative ornamentation. Editor: So it’s a romanticized view, more about European desires and fantasies than actual Armenian culture. Were Armenians even consulted in these portrayals? Curator: That's very unlikely. Such images reinforce power dynamics. What we see isn’t necessarily a window into 18th century Armenia, but a reflection of 18th-century Europe and the structures within the elite that consumed artworks such as this. Editor: That’s fascinating. I thought it was just a pretty picture on a playing card, but it holds so much historical context. Thanks for unpacking that! Curator: My pleasure. These visual depictions can tell us so much about not just art but cultural ideas when art and image creation took place.