Pig Beats King at the HdBG: Playing Card Culture from Bavaria in Regensburg
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Sheepshead Meets Museum: Bavarian Playing Cards Tell 600 Years of Culture
The House of Bavarian History in Regensburg dedicates a sharply curated cabinet exhibition to the Bavarian cultural asset of playing cards – and card playing itself. Between history and the present, an art experience unfolds that connects iconography, material aesthetics, and everyday culture: Why the pig beats the king in Bavaria becomes culturally historical and sensually tangible here.
Images on Cardboard: Form Language, Colors, Printing Techniques
In the examination of works, old Bavarian and Bavarian card imagery emerges: hand-colored sheets, fine line work, and later brilliant color prints. Woodcut, copper engraving, and lithography create characteristic image surfaces; bells, hearts, acorns, and grass shine in the display cases' room light. The exhibition atmosphere frames these graphic miniatures like table paintings in miniature format – a dialogue of painting, graphics, and design.
From Augsburg to St. Petersburg: A Best Seller
Since the 17th century, Bavarian card motifs have spread across Europe. The curation shows stations of this cultural history and embeds them in epoch horizons: Baroque image programs, bourgeois leisure culture of the 19th century, and tourist image worlds around 1900. Cards reflect politics and society – from fortune-telling sheets to advertising for Bavarian attractions.
Game Knowledge: Rules, Rituals, Spaces
Sheepshead, Watten, and Tarock: media stations explain game mechanics, hierarchies, and card logics. Beyond the tavern, it becomes visible where else “card playing” occurred – in clubs, while traveling, at home. Thus, the exhibition condenses cultural education and aesthetic experience.
Guided Tours and Education
Available for booking: compact group tours through the cabinet exhibition (45 minutes). The museum also offers programs for school classes and barrier-free educational offerings.
Visitor Feedback
The reactions of the visitors are clear: ‘Pig beats King’ delights art lovers.
- Instagram: A comment raves: ‘So much history in such small images – fascinating!’
- Facebook: A visitor writes: ‘Finally, I understand why the pig beats the king – didactically strong and beautifully presented.’
- YouTube: A user notes: ‘Precise curation, great close-ups of the sheets – definitely worth a look!’
Conclusion
For those who want to experience iconic pictograms, fine print art, and vibrant everyday history, this offers a concentrated, vivid introduction to 600 years of Bavarian playing cards. The exhibition combines art historical classification with tangible proximity to the object – an inspiring occasion to read the cards anew and view sheepshead with fresh eyes.
Official Channels of the House of Bavarian History:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hausderbayerischengeschichte/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hausderbayerischengeschichte/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/HdBGeschichte
- Website: https://www.hdbg.de/