The Card Players (Les Joueurs de cartes)
Original: Painting on canvas; This image: Print or reproduction on paper • Paul Cézanne
Style & Movement
Post-Impressionism / Proto-Cubism
Medium & Technique
Original: Oil on canvas with visible brushwork and constructive strokes; This image: Likely a mechanical color print
Creation Period
Original: ca. 1890-1892; This image: Contemporary/Modern reproduction
Dimensions & Format
Original: 135.3 x 181.9 cm (53 1/4 x 71 5/8 in); Format: Landscape
Subject Description
A genre scene depicting Provencal peasants engaged in a card game. This version includes five figures: three card players seated at a wooden table and two spectators in the background. The composition is noted for its geometric simplification of form and somber, earthy color palette, reflecting a transition toward Modernism.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Poor for the physical object shown. The image appears to be a creased or damaged print rather than an original painting.
Estimated Market Value
$10 - $50 USD (for a physical print in this condition)
Auction Estimate
$0 - $20 USD (nominal value for decorative prints)
Provenance History
Original: Barnes Foundation collection. This specific copy: Likely purchased as a museum gift shop print or illustration.
Art Historical Significance
Cézanne's Card Players series is a cornerstone of modern art. It represents his desire to 'make Impressionism something solid and durable, like the art of the museums.' It heavily influenced the development of Cubism by Picasso and Braque through its reduction of figures to cylindrical and conical forms.
Notable Features
This particular orientation of five figures is the largest and most complex version of the five paintings Cézanne created on this theme, currently held by the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia.
Condition Issues
The photograph shows visible creases, edge wear, and potential surface abrasions or staining on the lower left and edges of the paper.
Conservation Recommendations
None warranted for a reproduction of this quality. If desired for decoration, acid-free mounting and UV-protective glass would prevent further fading and yellowing.