Witches and Wicked Bodies will explore how witches and witchcraft have been depicted in fine art over the past 500 years.
As described by the museum, the show,
“will be an investigation of extremes, exploring the highly exaggerated ways in which witches have been represented, from hideous hags to beautiful seductresses.”
Some of the artists represented include Albrecht Dürer, Francisco de Goya, William Blake, Paula Rego, and Kiki Smith.
I’d love to see this show, and if I happen to be Scotland between July 27th and November 3rd, I’ll definitely be there.
But whether I make it to Scotland or not, I’m already struck by the William Blake picture being used to promote the show.
It’s called The Whore of Babylon and was created by Blake in 1809.
I couldn’t help but notice the similarities between it and Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot card #11 – Lust, (more commonly known as Strength) painted by Lady Freida Harris in the middle of the 20th Century.
It also features the Whore of Babylon and the 7-Headed Beast. Take a look …
I just love it when Tarot inspires fashion! Take a look at the video below of the Luck Winter 2013 Fashion Space by Marcio Madeira.
The whole collection is beautiful and worth seeing, but the Tarot designs start appearing at about the 4:00 minute mark, with more further in at about 6:00 minutes and beyond.
I’d just love to have some of these dresses. Lady Frieda Harris’ images from the Thoth Tarot have never looked so chic.
My dear Tarot Buddy, Bill Tarot, sent me the link to this website – Know Your Tarot.
Not only is it a great Tarot resource with comprehensive descriptions of all 78 cards, symbol definitions, Tarot spreads, history, books, even jokes … it also has a page of free downloadable Tarot goodies.
There are links to free printable decks as well as Tarot e-books, cheat sheets, and pamphlets.
But the reason Bill Tarot led me there was specifically for the free download of The Correspondence Between Frieda Harris and Aleister Crowley.
What a pleasure it was to read! I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the Thoth Tarot, Aleister Crowley, or Tarot history in general.
Even for people making decks of their own, it might be fun.
Hearing Lady Frieda describe her own process could prove inspirational, or at least remind us that nothing worthwhile comes easy.
