Historic tarot: a closer look at woodcuts and stenciled color

A card is an object someone made

Before you ask what a card might say, take a look at how the image is put together. An outline, a patch of color, or a repeated shape gives you a concrete place to start. You can explore historic tarot through making and looking, without asking the cards what will happen.

The Bibliothèque nationale de France describes the Philippe Vachier tarot, dated 1639, as a deck printed from woodcuts and colored with stencils. The library notes that all 78 cards survive. This information applies to that particular deck. It cannot tell us how every deck was made, especially modern editions.

Separate the outlines from the patches of color

The BnF’s catalog entry gives you two aspects of the image to look at: the printed drawing and the colors added to it. Start by following the visible lines in a reproduction, then look at the patches of color. You can notice how the two are arranged without identifying every figure.

A screen displays an image of the object. Without examining the object or reading a detailed record, avoid assuming a difference in color came from wear, restoration, or an original choice by the maker. You can describe what you see and leave the cause open.

An exercise in observation

Voyancea created this exercise for looking at images. It is separate from any documented historical practice. Choose a card you own or a reproduction you can access. Start by noting three visible details, such as a curved line, an area of red, or two shapes next to each other. Leave symbolic meanings aside for now.

Go back to each element and ask a descriptive question. Where is it? How much space does it take up? What does it contrast with? In a fictional example, someone notices that a figure’s clothing fills almost the entire center. They write, “The color in the center catches my eye before the small objects at the bottom.”

If you enjoy drawing, trace just a few outlines on paper and add two colors of your choice. Your variation is a piece of creative work. It need not reproduce a historic technique and does not count as a reading. You do not need to buy any special materials.

Stay curious about the image

The value of the exercise is in what you can actually observe and describe. A color or an outline can suggest a drawing without giving you hidden information about your life. Associations are personal and open to change. Some may hold no interest for you.

For more information, consult the collection record before turning an impression into a historical claim. Tarot gives you a chance to see images and objects that have survived over time. You can appreciate their presence, drawings, and contrasts without expecting them to announce an event.