Queen of Cups 1751

Claude Burdel created this 'Queen of Cups' card in the 1700s with ink and pigments on paper. The card shows a figure, presumably the Queen, holding a cup. The composition is divided into clear vertical sections which frame the queen and her accessories. Note the linear quality of the design. Lines here define shapes and forms with minimal shading. The flat blocks of colour, such as the blues, greens, reds and yellows do not attempt to create depth, instead they emphasize the flatness of the picture plane. The Queen is stylized, with simplified facial features, and linear folds in her garments. This aesthetic choice reflects a departure from naturalistic representation. It moves toward abstraction, and accentuates the symbolic function of the card. In this way, we may see the artwork functioning as a sign, with colours and shapes acting as signifiers. The semiotic system used relies on culturally understood codes, such as royalty which imbue the image with layers of meaning. We can understand how the artist deliberately manipulates visual cues to convey complex ideas.