The Card Players 1822

"The Card Players" was made by Louis Léopold Boilly during a period of social upheaval in France. Boilly was working during and after the French Revolution, a time of enormous social change. These men are not aristocrats, and their clothing suggests a life of manual labor. They are portrayed playing cards, perhaps seeking a brief escape from the day-to-day hardships of their lives. The intensity in their faces tells a story of high stakes. Boilly does a good job of capturing their concentration and desperation. Boilly created a range of artworks depicting everyday life in France during this period. Unlike paintings of the wealthy, works such as this provide insight into the lives of the working class, and the shifting social dynamics that shaped the nation. Boilly's focus on the working class offers a different perspective on French society, one that is both intimate and insightful.