The deck of classic tarot cards, as we know it today, is a product of cultural influence over centuries. Since their first appearance, tarot cards drew attention from artists and creators serving as a powerful source of inspiration.
Nowadays, tarot cards are experiencing a new era of popularity becoming an accessible tool for self-exploring.
Today anyone can learn to read tarot cards or get an online tarot reading from top-rated services like TarotAtlas to get answers to any question on the go. In our article, we will look at the tarot symbolism through the prism of culture and art.
The History of Tarot Cards
Art and culture are subjects that have transformed through the years. Each piece of art is a product of a certain epoch that reflects the views and events happening back then. Let’s take a glimpse into the genesis of tarot cards to find out what blend of cultures is hidden within the mystical deck.
The Influence of the Culture of Ancient China
Despite the widespread opinion that tarot cards originated in Europe, their roots go far back to the 9th century in Ancient China. The prototypes of modern decks looked different way back then. The first ‘cards’ were made of stones, wood, bones, and other materials.
The times of international trading had come and prototypes of tarot traveled from Ancient China to Persia.
Ancient Asian Period
The local culture infused them with different interpretations and meanings. The cards’ design was renewed and changed as well. However, in Asian Cultures the cards were mainly used for games, and their traveling was only started.
Islamic World and Tarot Prototypes
During the 12th and 19th centuries, the prototypes of tarot cards went to Syria and Egypt where they were influenced by Islamic culture. That period is marked with the adding the ‘court’ cards to the deck.
Simultaneously with the development of science and art, the cards’ genesis proceeded as they traveled further to the Mediterranean world.
Italian Period and Symbolism
Since the 15th century the card game ‘trionfi’ has become popular in Italy. The decks were more similar to modern tarot as they contained cards with illustrations on them. That period is marked by an outbreak of creativity and individual expression that influences ways of using cards.
France of 18th Century and Divination
French culture added a lot to tarot genesis and symbolism as that period is marked with the first attempts to use the cards for divination purposes. Occultists of that period found mysticism in the tarot deck and started to transform the cards to use them for their ceremonies.
The Rider-Waite Tarot
Most of the modern tarot decks one can purchase online on Amazon or in offline stores are based on the most popular Rider-Waite-Smith deck. The creation of this deck was influenced by the views of a secret society based in London that was called ‘Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn”.
In 1909 the two members of the society, Pamela Smith and Arthur Waite decided to collaborate and create a deck that reflected their mutual beliefs in symbolism, alchemy, astrology, and esoteric sciences.
How Does Tarot Influence Art?
Being a product of art themselves, tarot cards directly influence all kinds of art. First of all, many creators through the years of history were gaining inspiration from the symbols depicted on tarot cards. One of the functions of tarot cards is to evoke emotions and serve as a tool for self-learning.
By analyzing all tarot card meanings and trying to interpret the combinations of cards in spreads, creators stimulate imagination and widen their vision.
The classical deck of tarot has 78 cards, and each of them is a small masterpiece with countless interpretations. If we take a quick look at any tarot card, we will see a wild mix of colors and symbolic motifs that include people, mythical creatures, objects, animals, elements of Fire, Earth, Air, and Water, flowers and trees, pieces of wardrobe, and more.
Beautiful and sophisticated illustrations on cards boost imagination when one tries to discover their symbolism. Intricate patterns and figures on the cards show that creativity has no borders.
Modern Tarot Decks by Artists
Since the creation of the first tarot deck, a variety of tarot modern interpretations of them have appeared. A lot of designers, artists, musicians, and other creators express their vision by combining various styles and cultures to create a new interpretation of tarot decks.
Some of them find huge support from admirers of modern art on crowdfunding platforms. Here are some examples of modern decks infused with art:
- Spolia Tarot. An original tarot deck is a product of collaboration between two talented creators Jessa Crispin and Jen May. Artists used collages and blends of images they found in mythology, mysticism, alchemy, astrology, and so on. The deck is full of symbols that add each card with uniqueness. Unlike traditional 78 card decks, this deck consists of 97 cards including the Element cards and cards with Zodiac signs.
- Mystic Mondays. Grace Duong, the creator of the well-known Mystic Mondays tarot deck is a renowned artist with a recognizable style. On her website, the creator offers plenty of beautifully designed decks that include her illustrations with a signature style. Among the popular decks by Duong are The Crystal Grid Deck, The Cosmic Creatures Deck, and The Astro Alignment Deck.
- The Black Power Tarot. The deck created and inspired by an artist, a filmmaker, and a musician makes a revolution in tarot symbolism changing the traditions. The deck is illustrated with prominent personalities in African-American history contributing to the cultural legacy of pop culture and art. The cards depict such iconic figures as Tupac, Nina Simone, and others.
These are only a few examples of tarot decks that were created by modern artists and highlight their unique signature style.
Afterall
Mystical and attractive tarot cards are experiencing a new era of popularity. Since the early years of the card’s prototype’s appearance, the cards have traveled a long way from Ancient China and Islamic countries to the Mediterranean and then to the modern world.
Culture and art of hundreds of years blended into the tarot deck’s ancient wisdom infused by historical context making the cards a unique instrument for divination and self-learning.
