Gamblers quarreling, by Jan Steen.

Using Paintings that Depict Gambling
Practices to Protect the Youth

 

Abstract

This article examines the depiction of gambling practices in art, focusing on key paintings from the 16th to the 20th century. Works such as Caravaggio’s The Cardsharps, Cézanne’s The Card Players, and Géricault’s The Woman with Gambling Mania illustrate various aspects of gambling, including deceit, social engagement, and addiction. The analysis identifies both positive and negative messages conveyed through these artworks: positive messages emphasize social interaction, moral awareness, and cultural reflection, while negative messages highlight deception, addiction, and conflict. Paintings portray a range of attitudes, from neutral or healthy social activities to unhealthy compulsive behaviors. By presenting gambling’s social and psychological dimensions, these artworks can serve as educational tools, fostering discussion, critical thinking, and awareness about gambling risks, particularly among youth.

Paintings

The following random sample of paintings portrays various forms of gambling:

The Cardsharps: Artist: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. Year: 1594. Synopsis: This painting portrays two men playing cards, one of whom is being cheated by a third figure who signals to the cardsharp. The scene captures the deceit and manipulation inherent in gambling.

The Gamblers: Artist: Hendrick ter Brugghen. Year: 1620. Synopsis: Depicts a group of men engrossed in a game of dice, highlighting the camaraderie and tension of gambling.

Argument over a Card Game: Artist: Jan Steen. Year: 1670. Synopsis: Shows a quarrel erupting among players over a card game, illustrating the potential for conflict and moral lessons associated with gambling.

Soldiers Gambling: Artist: Salvator Rosa. Year: c. 1656–58. Synopsis: Depicts soldiers gambling during wartime, reflecting the escapism and camaraderie found in such activities.

At the Roulette Table in Monte Carlo: Artist: Edvard Munch. Year: 1892. Synopsis: Captures the intense atmosphere of a roulette table, conveying the tension and allure of gambling.

The Card Players: Artist: Paul Cézanne. Year: 1890–1896. Synopsis: A series of paintings depicting peasants playing cards, emphasizing the simplicity and routine nature of gambling in everyday life.

Dogs Playing Poker: Artist: Cassius Marcellus Coolidge. Year: 1894–1910. Synopsis: A series of humorous paintings featuring anthropomorphized dogs playing poker, reflecting the kitsch culture of the early 20th century.

The Woman with Gambling Mania: Artist: Théodore Géricault. Year: 1822. Synopsis: Portrays a woman exhibiting signs of gambling addiction, highlighting the psychological impact of compulsive behavior.

 

Two men are playing a game with dice and another pulls a wat Wellcome.

 

Attitudes

The sampled paintings possess various healthy and unhealthy attitudes:

Healthy Attitudes: Paintings like The Card Players by Cézanne and Soldiers Gambling by Rosa depict gambling as a social activity without glorifying it, suggesting a neutral or healthy perspective.

Unhealthy Attitudes: Works such as The Woman with Gambling Mania by Géricault and The Cardsharps by Caravaggio highlight the negative consequences of gambling, including addiction and deceit.

 

Pieter Quast Soldiers Gambling with Dice.

Messages

The sampled paintings deliver various positive and negative messages:

Positive Messages: Gambling as a social activity. Awareness of the consequences of deceit in gambling. Reflection of societal norms and behaviors.

Negative Messages: Gambling leading to addiction and psychological issues. Deception and manipulation in gambling practices. Conflict and moral lessons associated with gambling.

 

David Teniers (II) - Figures Gambling in a Tavern.

Art's Contribution to Society

Art plays a significant role in shaping societal views on various topics, including gambling. Through the depiction of gambling in paintings, artists have highlighted both the social aspects and the potential negative consequences of gambling. These artworks serve as historical documents reflecting the values and concerns of their time, offering viewers insights into the complexities of human behavior and societal norms. By examining these paintings, society can foster discussions about the implications of gambling and promote awareness of its potential impacts.

Eugene Siberdt - The little gamblers.

 

References

Seegreatart. (2022). Gambling as a Subject of Art: Notable Paintings Devoted to Gambling. Retrieved from https://www.seegreatart.art/gambling-as-a-subject-of-art-notable-paintings-devoted-to-gambling/seegreatart.art+3seegreatart.art+3seegreatart.art+3

FAD Magazine. (2022). The Most Famous Paintings that Feature Gambling. Retrieved from https://fadmagazine.com/2022/04/01/the-most-famous-paintings-that-feature-gambling%EF%BF%BC/FAD Magazine+1

ArtDaily. (2020). Gambling in Art - Five Famous Paintings. Retrieved from https://artdaily.com/news/143566/Gambling-in-Art---Five-Famous-Paintingsartdaily.com

JAYAMBE Plast. (2021). Some of the Most Famous Paintings that Explore the Motif of Gambling. Retrieved from https://www.jayambeplast.com/some-of-the-most-famous-paintings-that-explore-the-motif-of-gambling/jayambeplast.com

1883 Magazine. (2020). Three of the Most Famous Gambling Themed Artworks in History. Retrieved from https://1883magazine.com/three-of-the-most-famous-gambling-themed-artworks-in-history/1883 Magazine

Wikipedia contributors. (2023). The Card Players. Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Card_PlayersWikipedia+2onlinegallery.art+2

Wikipedia contributors. (2023). Dogs Playing Poker. Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogs_Playing_Pokerartdaily.com+4jayambeplast.com+4Wikipedia+4

Wikipedia contributors. (2023). The Woman with Gambling Mania. Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Woman_with_a_Gambling_ManiaWikipedia

 

Note

This article was authored by the Greek Lifesaving Sports Association as part of the Erasmus+ project “Reverse the Odds” (Project No. 2024-3-DE04-KA210-YOU-000280177) that aims to prevent gambling among the youth.

 

Disclaim

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.