Hab.t de la Russie, from the playing cards (for quartets) "Costumes des Peuples Étrangers" 18th century

This playing card, ‘Hab.t de la Russie’, one of a set depicting the costumes of foreigners, was made by an anonymous artist using engraving, a printmaking process which has a long and fascinating history. The card presents a snapshot of everyday life, likely intended to amuse and instruct. Notice how the artisan carefully incised lines into a metal plate, creating an image of a Russian vendor selling what looks like pretzels to a customer. The linear quality gives a sense of depth and texture, and the later addition of color, applied by hand, enlivens the scene. The image’s success lies in the skilled labor and repetition involved; the artisan would have relied on deeply embodied knowledge of the materials and tools to produce a crisp, clear design that could be reproduced many times over. This card reminds us of the artistry embedded in even the most functional and commercial objects.