Playing Cards 

David Burliuk painted ‘Playing Cards’ using oil on canvas. The scene depicts men gathered at a table to play cards, likely somewhere in the United States, judging by the ‘Gents’ sign above the door. Burliuk emigrated from Ukraine in 1922, so this work likely dates from later in his career. The setting might be a working-class tavern. The room is roughly furnished, and decorated with a mounted deer head and a fish plaque – perhaps trophies from local hunting and fishing expeditions? The men themselves are dressed casually; they are smoking, and beer glasses are on the table. Burliuk was closely associated with avant-garde movements like Cubism and Futurism, so it’s interesting to see him turn his attention to such an everyday subject. It makes you wonder if he intended to ennoble the working man or if the painting mocks the establishment. Art historians look at exhibition records, letters, and other documents to help us understand how art relates to society.