The Game of Marseille was designed between 1940 and 41 by a group of Surrealist artists displaced by World War II. Headed by Andre Breton, the artists rethought the four suits and court cards of a traditional deck to reflect their political and spiritual ideals.
The standard hearts, spades, clubs and diamonds were replace by flames (love), locks (knowledge), stars (dream), and bloody wheels (revolution). Each artist including Victor Brauner, Andre Breton, Oscar Dominguez, Max Ernst, Jacques Herold, Wilfredo Lam, Jacqueline Lamba, and Andre Masson designed two cards and Robert Delangade reworked these renditions to create a cohesive deck. The king, queen and jack were replaced by the less hierarchical Mage, Siren and Genius. I've always thought that a game of cards reflects life, through this deck you can see a moment in history.
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