Where did the drawings on the face cards of a “traditional” 52-card deck originate? I am speaking here of the “suicide king”, “man with the axe”, etc.
France, according to the Urban Legends References Page (snopes).
http://www.snopes.com/errata/cardking.htm
La franchise ne consiste pas à dire tout ce que l’on pense, mais à penser tout ce que l’on dit.
H. de Livry