Vier kaartspelende mannen 1695

This engraving by Johannes Hilarides, made sometime between 1649 and 1726, depicts four men playing cards over a table draped with a map of Europe. It’s a time of shifting powers, and this card game becomes a metaphor for the political gambles of the era. The players are faceless, perhaps standing in for the leaders of Europe, negotiating territories and influence. The artist subtly hints at the high stakes involved in such dealings. Hilarides positions the act of playing cards, usually a pastime, as a way to learn about the geography, history, and heraldry of Europe. This adds an emotional dimension to the piece, suggesting that knowledge and power are intimately linked. In a world where identity and nationhood were constantly being reshaped, this artwork serves as a poignant reflection on the game of politics. Hilarides reminds us that the personal is always entangled with the political, and the game of power always involves real people and real places.