A Poker
1897-1903
Félix Vallotton’s striking cover for the 1897 issue of Le Cri de Paris captures a tense moment at the card table with his signature stark, high-contrast style. Three serious, almost caricatured men huddle over their poker hands, rendered in bold black shapes that feel like woodcuts but were actually pen-and-ink drawings. Vallotton was a key member of the Nabis, a group of avant-garde artists who loved flattening perspectives and playing with graphic design long before it was cool. This piece perfectly showcases his talent for social satire, turning a simple game of cards into a psychological standoff that still feels incredibly modern today.
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