The History and Mystery of Tarot Art and Symbolism

From painted playing cards to a language of the soul

Where It All Began

Long before tarot was linked with mysticism, it was simply a game.The earliest known tarot decks appeared in 15th-century Italy, commissioned by noble families for entertainment and art. These hand-painted sets, known as Trionfi or “Triumph” cards, were lavish works of Renaissance craftsmanship — miniature paintings that reflected the values and stories of their time.

The cards depicted figures like emperors, popes, lovers, and fools — allegories of power, faith, and the human condition. There was no fortune-telling involved; the beauty of the cards was their purpose.

Over time, however, people began to notice something deeper.The imagery — a tower struck by lightning, a star shining in darkness, a skeleton walking across a field — carried universal themes that spoke to life’s mysteries.

When Art Met Mysticism

By the 18th century, the tarot took on a new life. French occultists such as Antoine Court de Gébelin and Etteilla began linking the cards to ancient Egyptian wisdom, astrology, and the Kabbalah — a mystical system of Jewish origin.

Although their historical claims can't be officially verified, they transformed tarot into something far more profound: a spiritual and philosophical tool.

The symbols of the tarot — once playful and secular — became mirrors of the human journey. Every image was now seen as part of a cosmic story: the soul’s evolution through life, death, and rebirth.

The Rider–Waite Revolution

The version of tarot most people know today was born in 1909, when Arthur Edward Waite and artist Pamela Colman Smith created the Rider–Waite–Smith deck.

Smith’s artwork changed everything.Unlike earlier decks, she illustrated every card, including the numbered Minor Arcana. Her imagery was deeply symbolic, drawing from Christian mysticism, alchemy, astrology, and the writings of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.

Each colour, gesture, and background detail was deliberate — a coded language for the subconscious mind.

The deck was revolutionary not because it invented new symbols, but because it gave timeless archetypes a modern, accessible form.For many, the Rider–Waite–Smith deck remains the “standard alphabet” of tarot symbolism — a foundation for thousands of later interpretations.

The Art of Evolution

Since then, tarot has evolved alongside culture.From surrealist decks of the 1960s to feminist, LGBTQ+, and multicultural reinterpretations in the 21st century, each generation reimagines the symbols through its own lens.

This diversity is part of tarot’s strength.Its images adapt to changing human stories while still pointing to universal truths: transformation, love, loss, growth, and renewal.

In this way, tarot is both ancient and alive — a collective art form that keeps expanding as consciousness evolves.

The Language of Symbolism

So what do these symbols really mean?

A symbol is a bridge between the seen and unseen — an image that stirs something deeper than words.A lion may represent strength or courage, a cup may represent emotion or receptivity. But these meanings aren’t fixed; they’re fluid, changing with context and intuition.

Symbols act like keys — unlocking personal associations within the reader’s mind.They allow us to understand ourselves through metaphor, much like dreams do.

That’s why two people can draw the same card and see entirely different stories. Tarot doesn’t give answers — it invites reflection.

The Mystery That Remains

While historians debate its origins, tarot’s endurance speaks for itself.It has survived wars, religious censorship, and cultural change — not because of superstition, but because it resonates with something universal.

Each generation finds its own reflection in the cards.For some, tarot is psychological; for others, spiritual; for many, it’s simply art that speaks to the soul.

Perhaps that’s the real mystery: that a deck of images created centuries ago still helps us ask timeless questions — Who am I? What am I becoming? What does it all mean?

And like any great artwork, the answers shift with the light.