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

This playing card titled "Hab.t de la Pologne" presents an intriguing study in cultural representation through the form of popular entertainment. The composition is neatly divided, featuring two figures rendered in a style that emphasizes line and color over depth. The subjects, presumably Polish, are distinguished by their costumes of contrasting hues, orange and green, which immediately draw the eye and structure the visual field. These colors aren't merely decorative; they function as signifiers of identity, hinting at a complex system of cultural codes embedded in clothing. The flatness of the figures, combined with the decorative patterning of their garments, resists any illusion of depth. This invites us to consider how the card functions not as a realistic depiction but as a surface of signs, where cultural identity is performed through recognizable visual cues. The questions inscribed at the top, underscore a playful engagement with the viewer, suggesting that meaning is not fixed but negotiated.