First, Eugene Vinitski and Elsa Khapatnukovski took us to Venice of Italia with the Golden Venetian Lenormand and now to Spain with the Spanish Lenormand. This is a Petit Lenormand Oracle primarily based on Johann Kaspar Hechtel’s Game of Hope, circa the late 18th century. The deck consists of 36 cards-symbols expressed by sensible Pyrenean colours and solid with the thriller and magic of Iberian witches–las brujas (Iberia being the Land of Rivers).
What’s most standout about this deck is the artwork. Note how Vinitski provides a whole lot of texture to his work, a la the Post-Impressionist painters of continental Europe. You get the sense that the artist is a Romantic at coronary heart. As I am going by these illustrations, the decision to my thoughts early Modernists resembling Marc Chagall (1887 – 1985) and stylistic traces of Jean Metzinger (1883 – 1956).
Striking use of colour, the refined use of colour blocking, and geometric texturing from Byzantine legacies outline the model of Vinitski and Khapatnukovski’s Spanish Lenormand. This deck is a heartfelt tribute to La Piel de Toro, The Bull Skin., a beloved nickname for Spain.
Let’s begin with some manufacturing worth notes and the cardboard again design.
I’m loving the reversible card backs, and the daring purple and gold, paying homage to the purple and yellow flag of Spain. The purple is symbolic of power and valor, and the blood spilled from bull-fighting. The yellow is generosity of spirit and the solar.
The deck is edged with a vivid ruby purple, and while you fan the playing cards out you see the bands of purple and yellow — it’s totally cool. The playing cards have a high-gloss end that followers and shuffles with easy slip.
As a collectible, the Spanish Lenormand is a surprise, and I’m grateful for the companion guidebook that particulars every picture. Let’s stroll by a few of these playing cards, guidebook in hand, to reveal simply what number of layers of thought went into rendering this oracle. We begin with Card 1. The Rider is atop an Andalusian steed, returning after a race throughout the coasts of the port metropolis Cádiz.
The Clover card is El Cid’s victorious gallop within the fields of Castilla the place the fallen troopers’ courageous hearts flash within the scarlet poppies– purple poppies are a logo of remembrance.
The ship in Card 3 flies the flag of the Spanish Royal Navy, crusing alongside the Sargasso Sea. The Cloud card is the somber sky over Toledo wanting like a foreboding of the wars that the well-known Toledo swords had been solid for.
The Snake card tells the story of tangled palace intrigue on the Court of Madrid, and the Coffin card incorporates a hearse carriage heading towards the San Amaro Cemetery. Meanwhile the Birds take us to the plains of Consuegra.
The Scythe card is a scene from a small provincial city in La Rioja, and, noting the close-up view above, exemplifies that Post-Impressionist model that Vinitski has adopted for this deck. The colour blocking right here provides a dynamic power to the picture.
Continuing on with this walkthrough of the playing cards, the Child depicts a pastoral scene of peasant life in Leon. The Fox takes us to Granada. Card 15, historically that includes a Bear, is the picture of a Bull, an incarnation of significant power and the unofficial nationwide image of Spain.
Ooh, dunno why however the headless lady in The Child card freaks me out. =) Reading the cardboard description for this card from the guidebook, I additionally love the added layer of exploring social class dynamics.
Card 17, The Stork, incorporates a cartwheel amidst a discipline of troops. There’s a tense steadiness right here between struggle and peace. Also, right here once more you see the simulation of distinct, expressive brush strokes, and refined nods to geometric patterns iconic of the Post-Impressionist model.
That Card 20, The Garden, is beautiful. It incorporates a royal card, impressed by Alcazar, Cordoba, Seville, and Madrid. The Mountain is a scene from northeastern Spain in Catalonia. The deck in totality presents a fantastic steadiness of cool blue tones of night time and the nice and cozy tones of day.
The Gentleman and the Lady playing cards are dancers of the passionate flamenco. The Gentleman represents the “blazing energy of Spain and of the whole world” whereas The Lady, together with her “eyes shining like daggers,” is the everlasting and enigmatic dance of magnificence. She embodies the “unrestrained pursuit of happiness.” Card 30, The Lilies, is a portrait of a the maiden and mom, the harlot and Madonna, the nun and the witch, all included into one.
It’s really the minds and expertise behind TarotMania that make their decks so mangical. Vinitski is a beloved tarot deck artist and artistic thoughts behind a few of our group’s favourite decks– the Venetian Tarot, Kabbalistic Tarot, Tarot of Magical Correspondences, Magic Tarot of the New Aeon, Tarot of Forbidden Dreams, simply to call a number of.
Khapatnyukovski, who wrote the companion guidebook, is an artwork historian, scholar of historical prediction programs, and seasoned tarot practitioner who has collaborated with Vinitski on lots of his tarot and oracle tasks, resembling Tarot of Chateau Avenieres, Madhouse Tarot, and the Seals of Solomon Magic Cards (click on on any of the hyperlinks for my deck overview).
Totally random, nevertheless it’s a sudden thought prompted by the above photograph– Card 34, The Fish jogs my memory of these 18th and nineteenth century nonetheless life work of meals….and fish. Doesn’t it? Exhibit A – “Fish (Still Life”) circa 1864 by Édouard Manet. Heck, google “still life with fish painting” andyou’ll see what I imply. =)
Majestic, chic, and grandiose– that’s how I’d describe the Spanish Lenormand.
