Simultané

Published October 03, 1998 • Updated August 20, 2022

Simple geometric forms with an inner life and poetry emanating from the richness of colour, the musicality of rhythm, the vibrant breath of the execution...

SIMULTANÉ PLAYING CARDS
by Sonia Delaunay, 1964

" … She brought order and lyricism together: colour, geometry and rhythm"

The original edition was produced by Bielefelder Spielkarten Fabrik GmbH. This edition is by Altenburger und Stralsunder Spielkarten.

Simultané playing cards designed by Sonia Delaunay

The back design is a variation on the traditional harlequin pattern; there are two versions, one in red and blue and the other in green and blue. The figures of the king, queen and jack are identical in each of the four suits of the pack. To facilitate the use of the cards, the artist developed a supplementary system of colours; the same colours are used for the twelve cards, but each suit has a different dominant colour : blue for clubs, green for spades, red for hearts and yellow for diamonds. There is nothing cold or calculating about these ‘simultaneous’ cards. Sonia Delaunay disciplined her vitality to create a seemingly straight-forward composition of forms and colours; nonetheless their essential lyricism shows through. A second edition was published in 1980.

Sonia Delaunay was born in Russia in 1885. Her art was one of the first expressions of abstract painting, and she influenced Paul Klee and preceded Mondrian and Matisse. Her 'Simultané' playing cards were completed in 1964. The court cards were conceived to express the essential nature of the figure represented rather than its meaning, traditionally conveyed by ornaments, emblems and symbols. Thus the figure of the king expresses virility by means of large, static rhomboidal forms; the femininity of the queen is characterised by rounded, mobile forms; the jack is distinguished by its restlessness, playful agility and boyishness. The headgear is the only traditional emblem maintained, deliberately so, for the pack of cards is an object intended for use, and not simply to satisfy the eye. As for the two jokers, Sonia Delaunay used as a basic design, but in a more abstract fashion, her Jazz compositions from 1952.

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By Simon Wintle

Spain • Member since February 01, 1996

I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.