David Joseph Bles (1821-1899) - Kaartspelers Discussie (No Reserve)

Artist: David Joseph Bles (1821–1899) after Jean-Baptiste Madou (1796–1877)
Card players discussion
Medium/technique: oil paint on panel
Dimensions: 43.5 × 50.5 cm; with frame 58 × 65 cm.
Style/periodization: 19th century, Romantic genre art (historical interior scene)
Signature/date: hand-signed bottom left and dated 1889.
Condition: sporadic old retouchings (visible under UV), locally light vertical craquelé; panel stable.
Details: composition based on Madou’s The Cardplayers’ Dispute (signed and dated 1863; exhibited at Brussels Salon 1863); provenance: high-quality Dutch private collection; No Reserve.

Positioning: a 19th-century 'towards' work with recognizable origin.

This painting is not merely 'in the spirit of' Madou, but is concretely based on a well-known example: Jean-Baptiste Madou’s The Cardplayers’ Dispute, signed and dated 1863, and exhibited at the Brussels Salon of that same year. In this way, Bles’ panel fits into a classic 19th-century practice: reusing a successful composition (as a homage, variation, or collectible 'reduction') by a respected contemporary artist with his own signature and finish. Bles’ dating of 1889 further marks the work as a late, mature genre interior, executed with technical precision that aligns well with his reputation as a subtle storyteller in images.

A discussion you almost hear

The scene revolves around a card game that spirals into a dispute. The action is focused around the table: one player leans forward intensely—urgent, accusatory—while his opponent on the right defensively positions himself, seeking support from the chair and with closed, defensive body language. The onlookers reinforce the psychology: on the left, a group watches silently; centrally, a smoking figure observes the situation with cool detachment. In the background, women and a child watch; this domestic 'audience' adds extra moral tension to the scene, as if the game and the men's behavior are under social scrutiny.

Composition: theatrical clarity and perfect direction.

Bles arranges the space as a stage. The focal point is at the green table, where arms, cans, and diagonals converge. The standing figure on the right forms a visual keystone, while the heavy chimney in the middle stabilizes the composition and defines the depth of the room. Chairs, floorboards, and the positioning of the figures guide the eye in a carefully constructed arc: from the 'spectators' on the left, through the central smoker, to the conflict on the right. The result is a lively scene that is immediately readable but rewards longer viewing with small details and subtle character nuances.

Technique and material: oil paint on panel with controlled detailing.

Oil paint on panel is ideally suited for accurately depicting texture and nuance—precisely where this work excels. Wood, ceramics, fabrics, and skin tones are convincingly modeled without excessive paint buildup. The painting is fine and controlled, with a certain 'gloss' in the highlights (clothing folds, pipe smoke, reflections on the jug and table). This type of paint treatment aligns with the 19th-century pursuit of narrative clarity: the technique is entirely in service of the story.

Color palette and light: warm interior with deliberate accents

The palette is predominantly warm and earthy (ochre, brown, and reddish-brown tones), fitting for a tavern-like interior. Bles adds clear accents here:
The cool, striking gray/light blue of the coat on the left, which immediately draws attention and marks a 'distance' figure.
The saturated green of the tablecloth and clothing in the foreground, drawing the eye to the conflict.

The light is subdued and 'room-moderated': not harsh chiaroscuro, but a soft modeling that makes the space feel realistic and intimate. The pipe smoke acts as an atmospheric veil, subtly enhancing depth and tension.

To Madou: relation to the original

The relationship to Madou’s The Cardplayers’ Dispute is both substantively and compositional essential. Madou was highly renowned for this type of sharply observed scenes from everyday life, where humor, character, and social friction come together. The catalog entry of the original (1863) and the Salon exhibition in Brussels emphasize that this was a prominent work at the time—exactly the kind of composition later adopted by collectors and artists. Bles’ panel can be read within that tradition as a late 19th-century reinterpretation: recognizable as a famous example, but executed with Bles’ own color accents, painting discipline, and narrative timing.

Art historical placement: romantic genre painting and historicizing realism

Within romanticism, attention often shifts from the heroic history piece to the 'small drama': moral and psychological scenes from everyday life, often dressed in a historical style. This work fits perfectly within that line: a compact narrative, full of character studies, where the social space (watching, judging, participating, recoiling) is just as important as the card game itself.

Stylistic peers (national and international): Charles Rochussen, Alexander Hugo Bakker Korff, Petrus van Schendel, Christoffel Bisschop, Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier, Ludwig Knaus.

Condition, UV, and presentation

The condition is well maintained within the context of a 19th-century panel: there are sporadic old retouchings (visible under UV imaging), localized light vertical craquelé, and the panel is described as stable. The work is beautifully presented in a classic frame (overall size 58 × 65 cm), which enhances its historical genre appeal and makes the painting immediately 'interior-worthy'.

Provenance

From a quality Dutch private collection. Offered without reserve—a compelling entry point for collectors of 19th-century genre pieces and for enthusiasts of the Belgian-Dutch tradition around Madou, in an interpretation signed and dated (1889) by Bles.

The work 'Card Players' Discussion' is a rich wooden robbelist of museum quality with a brass artist's nameplate.

Total dimensions: 58x65cm
Panel dimensions: 43.5x50.5

All shipments are sent in professional packaging via FedEx, DPD, or PostNL.

For all shipments, a surcharge for packaging material applies, which is already included in the stated shipping price.

We aim to deliver your artwork to you safely and in optimal condition, paying careful attention to packaging and the shipping process. If you have any questions or special requests, you can always contact Catawiki customer service.

The customer is responsible for any customs duties and additional costs that may apply upon delivery abroad.