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Difference between revisions of "Rider-Waite Tarot"
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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
While the images are simple, the details and backgrounds feature abundant symbolism. Some imagery remains similar to that found in earlier decks, but overall the Waite–Smith card designs are substantially different from their predecessors. [[Christianity|Christian]] imagery was removed from some cards but some was added to cards that previously had none. For example | While the images are simple, the details and backgrounds feature abundant symbolism. Some imagery remains similar to that found in earlier decks, but overall the Waite–Smith card designs are substantially different from their predecessors. [[Christianity|Christian]] imagery was removed from some cards but some was added to cards that previously had none. For example: | ||
* The "Pope" card became the "[[The Hierophant]]" | |||
* The "Papess" became the "[[The High Priestess]]" | |||
* The "[[The Lovers|Lovers]]" card, previously depicting a medieval scene of a clothed man and woman receiving a blessing from a noble or cleric was changed to a depiction of the naked Adam and Eve in the [[Garden of Eden]] | |||
* The [[Ace of Cups]] featuring a dove carrying Sacramental bread | |||
The [[Minor Arcana]] is illustrated with allegorical scenes by Smith, where earlier decks (with a few rare exceptions) had simple designs for the Minor Arcana. | |||
The symbols and imagery used in the deck were influenced by the 19th-century magician and [[occultist]] [[Eliphas Levi]], as well as by the teachings of the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]]. In order to accommodate the astrological correspondences taught by the Golden Dawn, Waite introduced several innovations to the deck. He switched the order of the [[Strength]] and [[Justice]] cards so that Strength corresponded with [[Leo]] and Justice corresponded with [[Libra]]. He also changed the Lovers card to depict two people instead of three in order to reinforce its correspondence with [[Gemini]]. | The symbols and imagery used in the deck were influenced by the 19th-century magician and [[occultist]] [[Eliphas Levi]], as well as by the teachings of the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]]. In order to accommodate the astrological correspondences taught by the Golden Dawn, Waite introduced several innovations to the deck. He switched the order of the [[Strength]] and [[Justice]] cards so that Strength corresponded with [[Leo]] and Justice corresponded with [[Libra]]. He also changed the Lovers card to depict two people instead of three in order to reinforce its correspondence with [[Gemini]]. | ||
==Publication== | ==Publication== | ||
Prior to first publication, some of the black and white artwork from the deck was published in the esoteric magazine ''[[Occult Review]]'', accompanying an article by [[A.E. Waite]] explaining the origins of the Tarot and his process in developing the deck. | Prior to first publication, some of the black and white artwork from the deck was published in the esoteric magazine ''[[The Occult Review]]'', accompanying an article by [[A.E. Waite]] explaining the origins of the Tarot and his process in developing the deck. | ||
The cards were first published during December 1909, by the publisher William Rider & Son of London. The first printing was extremely limited and featured card backs with a roses and lilies pattern. A much larger printing was done during March of 1910, featuring better quality card stock and a "cracked mud" card back design. This edition, often referred to as the "A" deck, was published from 1910 to 1920. Rider continued publishing the deck in various editions until 1939, then again from 1971 to 1977. | The cards were first published during December 1909, by the publisher William Rider & Son of London. The first printing was extremely limited and featured card backs with a roses and lilies pattern. A much larger printing was done during March of 1910, featuring better quality card stock and a "cracked mud" card back design. This edition, often referred to as the "A" deck, was published from 1910 to 1920. Rider continued publishing the deck in various editions until 1939, then again from 1971 to 1977. | ||
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In the United States, the deck became part of the public domain in 1966 (publication + 28 years + renewed 28 years), and thus has been available for use by American artists for numerous different media projects. [[U.S. Games Systems]] has a copyright claim on their updated version of the deck published in 1971, but this only applies to new material added to the pre-existing work (e.g. designs on the card backs and the box). | In the United States, the deck became part of the public domain in 1966 (publication + 28 years + renewed 28 years), and thus has been available for use by American artists for numerous different media projects. [[U.S. Games Systems]] has a copyright claim on their updated version of the deck published in 1971, but this only applies to new material added to the pre-existing work (e.g. designs on the card backs and the box). | ||
As of December 2022, the original deck is entirely in the public domain. | |||