Dada and Surrealist Art

This pack of cards was produced to celebrate the Israel Museum’s receipt of 700 Dada and Surrealist works of art from Arturo Schwarz (1924-2021), an Italian scholar, art historian, poet, writer, lecturer, art consultant and curator of international art exhibitions.

In 1998, on the occasion of Israel’s 50th anniversary, Schwarz donated a large part of his vast collection of Dada, Surrealist, and pre-Surrealist art to the Israel Museum. The New York Times estimated the 1998 and subsequent gifts to be worth more than $30 million and called Mr. Schwarz’s collection “unparalleled.”

In light of the large number of items donated to the Museum it is a little disappointing to see that the illustrations on the court cards are the same in each suit, and that the two jokers are identical, with the result that only 4 different works appear on the cards (and a fifth on the backs). However, the pip cards are arranged in attractive non-standard patterns.

Above: Dada and Surrealist Art playing cards featuring artwork by Arturo Schwarz, produced by the Israel Museum, 1998.

NOTE: Arturo Schwarz’s generosity to the Israel Museum began in 1972, when he donated a complete set of editioned replicas issued in collaboration with Duchamp. In 1991, he donated a rare collection of manuscripts, books, vintage Dada and Surrealist periodicals, documents, manifestos, and extensive personal correspondence.

For further information about the artist’s life and relationship with the Museum see here►