The galleries of the Palacio de Bendaña will showcase the exhibition Imágenes del juego en la literatura (Images of play in literature) from 22 October to 29 November. Organised by the Fournier Museum of Playing Cards and the School of Arts and Crafts in Vitoria-Gasteiz, the exhibition is in collaboration with Euskal Irudigileak, the Professional Association of Illustrators of Euskadi.
This exhibition features 25 original engravings created by 20 students from the School's Calcographic Engraving Workshop during the 2025-2026 academic year. The works draw inspiration from texts of universal literature that explore the theme of play from various perspectives. The students employed a range of engraving techniques, including aquatint, drypoint, soft varnish, and collage, resulting in intricate and evocative images that reflect each participant's unique interpretation.
The exhibition also highlights the career of Lauren Aliende, the Calcographic Engraving Workshop's instructor, who is celebrating 30 years of teaching at the School of Arts and Crafts. Throughout these three decades, Aliende has played a vital role in imparting graphic techniques as a means of artistic expression and guiding students in their creative development.
This exhibition continues the collaboration between the Fournier Museum of Playing Cards and the School of Arts and Crafts, which previously shared this space in 2016 for the exhibition Contemporary Calcographic Engraving, organised to commemorate the centenary of Heraclio Fournier's death. The historical connection between the two institutions dates back to the former Academy of Fine Arts of Vitoria, which collaborated with Fournier in designing some of his playing cards, involving both faculty and students.
The current exhibition's theme also resonates with the museum's collection, which includes illustrated playing cards from the 15th century to the present day. Ana del Val, the regional deputy for Culture and Sport, emphasised the importance of collaboration among cultural agents to promote new initiatives and showcase creative talent. She stated, “This exhibition demonstrates what can emerge when spaces, knowledge, and experiences are shared. The collaboration between the Fournier Museum, the School of Arts and Crafts, and Euskal Irudigileak brings the students' work closer to the public and offers new perspectives on a theme so closely linked to the museum's history as play.”
The exhibition will also be part of the highlighted activities for the Day of Illustration (Ilustrazioaren Eguna), which will be celebrated on 12 November for the second consecutive year, initiated by Euskal Irudigileak. This day aims to highlight the diversity, history, and cultural significance of Basque illustration, as well as to engage the public with graphic creation through exhibitions, workshops, and other activities across Álava, Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa, and Navarra.
The inclusion of this exhibition marks one of the first collaborative actions between the Fournier Museum of Playing Cards and Euskal Irudigileak, following discussions aimed at fostering the exchange of ideas and activities. Additionally, the museum will be featured as a cultural agent on the illustrated map of this initiative. Visitors can view the exhibition at the galleries of the Palacio de Bendaña until 29 November 2026.
