Inspiration from the past: How artists are inspired by classic tarot cards

Tarot cards have been a popular instrument for centuries to gain insights into your own future. But not only that - artists are always inspired by the symbols and motifs of the tarot cards in order to create unique works of art.

What are tarot cards?

Tarot cards are a fascinating tool for self -knowledge and inspiration . They consist of a set of 78 cards that are divided into different categories such as Major Arcana and Minor Arcana.

The Major Arcana comprises 22 cards, which are often referred to as "trump cards" and have a profound symbolic meaning.

In the Minor Arcana there are four different colors or "suits" - goblets, swords, rods and coins - each with ten number cards and four farm cards.

Tarot cards are more than just a simple card game; They serve as a spiritual oracle and enable people to gain insight into their lives and to answer questions.

There are numerous tarot card sets on the market, including the popular Rider-Waite Tarot card edition , which has inspired many artists with their classic design and detailed symbols.

 

What kind of Tarot cards are there?

There are a variety of tarot cards that are available in various Tarot decks. Each deck consists of 78 cards that are divided into two main groups: the large Arkana and the small Arkana. The large Arkana consists of 22 cards that represent powerful archetypal symbols. These cards are often regarded as the main tickets of the Tarot deck and are of great importance.

Examples of cards from the Great Arkana are the fool , the lovers , the magician and the devil . The small Arkana consists of the remaining 56 cards and is divided into four colors: goblets (cups), rods (walls), swords (Swords) and coins (coins or pentacles).

Each color has maps from 1 to 10 and four farm cards: the king , the queen , the knight and the boys . In addition to traditional tarot decks, there are also many different variations and topics that relate to certain interests or personalities.

For example, there are tarot decks with fairy topics , animal motifs , mythological figures or even star Wars characters .

Some Tarot decks also use other symbols or names for the cards of the large Arkana to different cultural or mirrors traditions .

How do tarot cards work?

Tarot cards work according to the teachings of spiritualism due to their ability to connect to our subconscious and to give us access to hidden information and deeper levels of our mind.

By combining images, symbols and numbers, tarot cards can stimulate our intuition and help us to better understand our own thoughts, feelings and challenges.

The tarot cards are based on a system of symbols and archetypes that have universal meanings. These symbols and archetypes have long been part of human culture and can be found in many old wisdom traditions.

When laying out the cards, we can connect to these universal energies and gain a deeper insight into our situation. Tarot cards also serve as a tool for self -knowledge and promoting personal growth.

By dealing with the various cards and their meanings, we can reflect on our own thoughts and emotions and gain new perspectives. They help us get to know ourselves better and to recognize our strengths and weaknesses.

In addition, tarot cards can serve as a means of communication with the subconscious and the mind. If we concentrate on the cards and use our intuition, we can get deep insights and inspiration.

be used for spiritual leadership and decision -making

Would you like to try it out yourself? But the medieval market is not in your city? No problem. Tarot card reading free of charge can be used with an open online tool.

Probable symbolism as a source of inspiration

The symbols on the cards, such as the four of the goblets or the coins, are a rich source of inspiration for artists because they various meanings and interpretations .

By studying and understanding the symbolism of the tarot cards, artists can gain new perspectives and ideas for their own works of art. The tarot cards offer a wide range of opportunities for artists to be inspired by the classic symbols.

You can use the colors, patterns and symbols of the cards in your works to express moods and meanings.

For example, the representation of the goblets, which are often associated with emotions and interpersonal relationships, can create a deep emotional effect sculpture project

Artists can also use the narratives and stories associated with certain tarot cards as a starting point for their own works of art. The modern art scene offers numerous ways to implement the old symbols and interpretations of the tarot cards in contemporary art.

How artists reinterpret medieval Tarot motifs

Tarot cards from Salvador Dalí for art lovers

The Tarot cards from Dalí offer a fascinating journey through European art history and the personal world of the artist. Some are bold and roughly drawn, others almost impressionistically with gentle pats on the edge.

There are also cards that show a collage of medieval art and the characteristic butterflies that are typical of Dalí.

The artist has portrayed himself as a "magician", who, as a royal ruler, sits and dreams with an ocelot on a leash. In reality, he actually had such an exotic pet and once walked through the streets of Paris.

The artist used the portrait "Elisabeth of Austria" by Jean Clouet from the 16th century to represent the "Queen of the Kelche" However, the queen wears a beard, similar to Marcel Duchamp's version of the Mona Lisa .

A naked woman with red comic wings is shown on the map "moderation" Her appearance is reminiscent of the singer Amanda Lear, who was a close girlfriend of Dalí.

These artistic motifs of the surrealist are available as a magnificent tarot card box with an accompanying book.

The Dalí-Tarot-Box (Pocket Verlag, ISBN 978-3-8365-7612-3) contains a cards and the accompanying book designed in purple and gold. There each of the 78 tarot cards is printed and explained individually.

"The Visconti project"

How do artists from the 21st century see, for example, the well-known tarot cards "Der Narr" , "Der Death" , "The High Priest" or "The ruler" ?

The answer was provided in September 2019 in the Dortmund Kaiserviertel in the "G18" gallery .

the exhibition "The Visconti project" presented the innovative interpretation of 23 artists from all over Germany , which was created in a unique project by the Dortmund writer and artist Gabriella Wollenhaupt .

These talented artists have managed to stage the pictures of the oldest Tarot game in the world from 1442 in a completely new way.

The tarot, which was created almost 600 years ago for the Visconti-Sforza family in Milan, has been almost completely preserved. Only a few cards have not survived the test of the time. Over the centuries, the tarot was repeatedly copied and expanded.

It consists of a total of 78 precious and symbolic cards that offer valuable advice for coping with life.

In the "G18" gallery, 38 trump and farm cards of the map deck from the 15th century were presented in a new and unique way. The focus was primarily on the cultural -historical aspect and the contemporary interpretation of the map meanings.

Sexy, dark, diverse: with feminism and punk rock to the Tarot deck of the 21st century

A little more than 5 years ago, a union of curators gathered more than 70 different artists in order to create contemporary, feminist and, above all, diverse Tarot card deck This deck brings the medieval visual language of the classic cards to our modern society.

In an interview with Vice Ione Gamble , editor-in-chief of the Polyester why so many women are interested in alternative forms of spirituality.

This includes areas such as the occult, tarot, sexual magic and traditional witchcraft. Although our society is unstoppable for a neoliberal, late capitalist orientation, which is shaped by male influences, many people (especially women) show a lively interest in spiritual topics, which is usually considered typically female.

In collaboration with her co-curators Liv Thurley, Laurence Philomene from the feminist art collective The Coven and Isabella Podpadex from the British-Icelandic Punk-Pop band Dream Wife gathered over 70 talented and emerging artists.

Together they developed a Tarot deck for the 21st century, which presented both well-known and unknown artists.

On January 7, 2016, the exhibition "What does our future hold?" opened. The works of renowned artists and designers such as Maisie Cousins, Hobbes Ginsberg, Clio Peppiatt and Grace Miceli were presented.