It is argued that creating art is an instinctive human imperative – art has certainly been part of human culture for as long as civilizations have existed. Surprisingly, much the same can be said of gambling. We will let the psychologists debate how it relates to instincts such as competitiveness and risk taking, but what we can say for certain is that the same archeologists who have unearthed artwork dating back to prehistoric times have also found rudimentary dice crafted from animal bones.

Art and gambling might not immediately sound like natural bedfellows, but this enduring connection with human societies is something they share. Gambling has also proved a rich source of inspiration for artists over the years, as the following examples show.

The Cardsharps

This 1594 painting is probably the best preserved example of Caravaggio’s work. On first examination, it is simple enough – two young men play cards while an older man looks on. But take time to look closer and a fuller story emerges. One boy conceals extra cards behind his back, the older man is looking at the other boy’s cards and signaling to his protege. The painting laments the loss of innocence, both for the victim of the scam and of the young sharp who is being corrupted.

At the Roulette Table in Monte Carlo

The year before he painted The Scream, Edvard Munch created this highly atmospheric expressionist piece. It magically captures the excitement and nervous anticipation of what is, after all, the most aesthetic casino game. Even today, roulette is the most recognizable gambling game, and it is one that anyone can play with no complicated rules. These days, the easiest way to experience the rush of the roulette table is online – the Gamblingsites home page at https://www.gamblingsites.org/ can set you in the right direction if you want to know more.

A Friend in Need

Is this the most famous gambling painting of all time? The title might not sound immediately familiar, but when you hear it was painted by Cash Coolidge in the 1890s as part of his Dogs Playing Poker series, you will be able to place it right away. Coolidge was actually commissioned to paint a dozen such scenes for a cigar manufacturer’s proposed calendar.

The Cheat with the Ace of Clubs

Finally, we go back to the 17th century, and there are no prizes for guessing what piece of art inspired Georges de La Tour for this oil painting, which he completed in the mid 1600s. The similarities with Caravaggio’s Cardsharps is plain for all to see, from the titular cheat holding the cards behind his back to the conniving maidservant and courtesan who feeding him information through looks and signals. Less obvious is the influence of far earlier morality pieces on the biblical topic of the prodigal son. An interesting detail is the card cheat himself, who seems to be showing us his hidden cards and looking directly at us, thereby making us complicit in his fraud.