Kickstarter: Mucha & Van Gogh V2 Playing Cards

[EndersGame]

Kickstarter - Mucha & Van Gogh V2 Playing Cards (by 52 MUSEE)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/208530852/mucha-and-van-gogh-v2-playing-cards-by-52-musee

Luxurious holographic foil playing cards with famous art works by Mucha and Van Gogh

Cost: ~US$16 Standard Edition decks, ~US$20 Special Edition decks, ~US$45 Collector Boxes
Funding level: over 100% funded
Project ends: Friday, 13 June 2024



It's well been said that a deck of playing cards is like a miniature portfolio, containing a gallery of 52 artworks plus jokers.  That makes it the ideal place to showcase actual works of art, including famous paintings.

Last year saw TCC Playing Cards debut their new label "52 MUS?E" to do exactly that, by combining famous art-pieces from renowned artists with luxury holographic foil.  They've produced a number of projects already, including ones that featured big name artists like Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, and Pablo Picasso, as well as the famous 19th century Japanese painter Utagawa Kuniyoshi.  These projects were a big success, which is not surprising since the iridescent colors of holographic foils brings classic works of art to life in a way we've never seen them before.

Their latest project is called Mucha & Van Gogh V2 Playing Cards, and gives collectors another opportunity to enjoy famous paintings in stunning holographic colours.  This time around we get works by Czech artist Alphonse Mucha, along with some previously seen and some new works from Van Gogh, who has proven to be a popular favourite.   For each artist there are three decks: Standard Edition (a limited edition of 2000), Special Edition (limited edition of 500), and Gilded Special Edition (a limited edition of 500).

Mucha Standard Edition deck

Perhaps it's just my own ignorance about the world of art, but Alphonse Mucha was someone I'd not come across before.  He was Czech artist who is considered to be one of the leading figures of the Art Nouveau movement.  His art was typical of the era, and had a significant impact on the worlds of art and design. 

He's especially well-known for theatrical posters he designed for the famous Parisian actress Sarah Bernhardt, such as Gismonda (1894) and La Dame aux Cam?lias (1896).  Gismonda and The Zodiac (1896), another of his famous works, make an appearance on the front and back of the tuck box respectively.  As is fitting for a work of art, the tuck box gets some extra loving attention: it is not your basic box, but has a side-drawer mechanism.  Gismonda also reappears on the card backs.







As the project puts it, Mucha is known for using "delicate, flowing lines, vibrant yet soft colors, and highly decorative natural elements."  Female figures were a favourite subject, and they are "typically graceful and elegant, perfectly blending with ornamental patterns of plants and flowers to create a dreamy and beautiful artistic atmosphere." 



An example of this is found in his renowned series The Seasons (1896), in which he personifies spring, summer, autumn, and winter with four elegant female figures. 





Works like these are what you'll find throughout the deck, including on all the number cards, each of which features its own gorgeous artwork.







Mucha Special Edition deck

Some collectors may recognize some of the artworks from the above deck, because TCC has previously produced holographic decks featuring Mucha's work in
this Kickstarter project.  The Standard deck is effectively a re-skinned version of that, with new artwork on the card backs, and a new tuck case.  It will especially be of interest for collectors who missed out previously, and for the completionists. 

The Special Edition deck caters for those wanting something entirely new.  This is a limited edition with individually numbered seals and with completely different illustrations on the card faces. 



While the Standard edition has a red box and red-backed cards, the Special edition has a white box and white-backed cards, featuring a contemplative woman from Mucha's Meditation (1898).



The card faces depict some of Mucha's other famous works, as well as some of his lesser known pieces.









Mucha Collection Box

Corresponding to each of the Special Edition decks is a gilded version.  The Gilded Special Edition in both instances has the same cards, but adds lavish gold gilding to the edges of the cards.  This is only available as part of a collection box (500 only) in which it is also paired with a Standard Edition.  The Mucha Collector's Box is finished with silver foil on red.









Van Gogh V2 Standard Edition deck

Little introduction will be needed for legendary Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), who had a huge influence on Post-Impressionism art and anticiapted Expressionism.  The V2 Standard Edition has the same artwork on the card faces of the Van Gogh V1 Standard deck featured in this Kickstarter project. 

Like the Mucha Standard Edition, it is effectively a re-skinned version, with a more lavish tuck-box that has a whole new look, and different card backs.  While the V1 Standard Edition was inspired by Van Gogh's famous painting The Starry Night, the v2 deck features his renowned Sunflowers, with its instantly recognizable tones of bright yellow and its familiar look. 





The tuck box is embellished with gold foil, and like the Mucha Standard Edition, features a side-drawer mechanism.  The card backs use the same artwork as the tuck box, giving it a very different look and feel from the V1 deck, even though the card faces are unchanged.













Van Gogh V2 Special Edition deck

The Special Edition is inspired by Van Gogh's 1887 self-portrait, and instead of yellow the main colour used for the card backs and tuck box is white.

The choice to use a self-portrait as a recurring motif in the Special Edition deck makes sense once we look at the card faces, which all use different artworks than the cards from the Standard Deck.  Most are closely related to the man himself, including no less than 14 different self-portraits, all displaying different aspects of the artist and his emotions.













Van Gogh Collection Box

The Van Gogh Collector's Box is finished with silver foil on yellow.  Like the Mucha Collector's Box, it features a pair of decks, one being a Gilded Special Edition, the other being a Standard Edition.









The Holographic Foil

I've got some of the previous decks in this series, and you may be wondering if the holographic foil makes any real difference to the artwork.  The answer is: Absolutely, and it's the main reason I love these decks. 

Because the cards have holographic foil on the faces, the colours and the overall effect of the art depicted on the cards changes as you alter the angle that you hold the cards up to the light.  I've been really impressed with the impact this has, and I expect that anyone who enjoys the artwork of these artists will find a lot to like here. 



Add-ons are available for extra decks, and for uncut sheets.

Kickstarter link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/208530852/mucha-and-van-gogh-v2-playing-cards-by-52-musee

[EndersGame]

For the last few days of this campaign, they've made several past editions from the 52 MUS?E Series available as add-ons.  This includes the Van Gogh V1 decks, Kuniyoshi decks, and Picasso decks.  For each of these there's a Standard Edition, Special Edition, and Special Gilded Version available.

Here are some pictures of the cards from the Picasso deck, which was not previously released as a separate project, but only as an add on.

Picasso Standard Edition deck













Picasso Special Edition deck