The Cards We Were Dealt

This project was completed by the Kingston High School Art Seminar Seniors while working remotely 

In the Middle ages, it was believed that it was important to preserve the division between three orders of people: the nobles, the clergy, and the peasants. They felt it was necessary, for the sake of overall balance, to keep people in the social classes they were born into. 

The conventional card deck is based on this feudal class system of medieval society. The face cards (King, Queen, Jack, and Joker) represent the hierarchical roles within that society, and the suits address aspects of the feudal system (spades/military, hearts/clergy, diamonds/merchants, clubs/peasants).

The endeavor of the artists involved in this project was to create parallels between medieval society and the society that we all live in today. Their artwork aims to represent those who hold power, those who project public image, the protectors, the spiritual and economic leaders, the rebels, the common people, and overall societal values. 

All imagery was illustrated by the following students from Kingston Highschool: Faith Cox, Hayden Culver, Rebecca Finch, Annabelle Fisher, Isabella Harrell, Even Marrinan, Maizy Milliken, Minh Quach, Hannah Shambo, and Leila Sinagra.

Out of print.

Images