Thoth Tarot 1943

Curator: My goodness, that's...intense! It feels like staring directly into a psychedelic woodland deity. So ornate! Editor: Indeed. What we're looking at is one of the cards from the "Thoth Tarot" deck designed by Lady Frieda Harris in 1943, employing mixed media. Curator: Lady Frieda, eh? Seems she had a thing for geometric order in nature. The wings, that central orb... Everything is precise but still sort of…breathing. Does that make sense? Editor: Absolutely. Harris, influenced by Aleister Crowley's occult philosophy, constructed a system of symbolism into these images, a specific visual language for tarot. Curator: Ah, Crowley. That explains some of the intensity. What I find curious is the blending of what appears to be art deco stylization with natural motifs. The colours feel so grounded, earthy almost, yet those sharp lines keep it elevated, less, I don’t know, hippie-dippie? Editor: I think that’s an astute observation. While rooted in symbolism and spiritual ideas, the application is rendered in a controlled, almost mathematical way, fitting the art deco sensibility. Remember also the context: during a period of global turmoil, creating art and a systematized belief structure offers solace. And tarot moved into mainstream culture precisely then! Curator: True! Thinking about the war… this piece feels like an attempt to find an enduring inner architecture when everything outside is collapsing. But even looking at it now, that central mandala…it just holds you, doesn't it? What do you make of the use of Tempera, seems like an old medium. Editor: Yes. Tempera gives it that slight antiquated sensibility, that connects it to a lineage of knowledge, of esoteric practices passed down through generations, not modern invention! In essence, Frieda Harris delivers an abstract language through carefully constructed and articulated signs in mixed media. Curator: Beautifully said. Now I feel even more peaceful despite looking into the heart of this piece. It does suggest that perhaps true vision has always been with us and accessible too! Editor: Indeed. Thank you, Lady Frieda, for your historical reminder to look at Tarot during a time of war, but most importantly for your timeless beauty.