Robert M Place demonstrated the close link between the Alchemical symbolism and traditional Tarot imagery with the classic Alchemical Tarot. He continues this exploration with The Tarot of the Alchemical Magnum Opus. Here the images are distilled down to their essence. The Simplified images point to the Alchemical processes in the quest for “gold” – discovering our own inner wisdom.
The Deck is designed as if it had been printed using wood blocks, like Renaissance cards. Four basic colors are used : black, white, blue, and red, each representing a separate wood block printed on a parchment background. (for the maintenance of Alchemical symbolism yellow is also used on three cards.) The colors each represent an area printed from a carved block, the colors are hard-edged without gradation. The black lines define the outlines and darkest areas and the blue and red areas act as medium tones that define the forms and textures. This simplified code for interpreting forms, like alchemy itself, can be traced back to ancient Greece. It is a cornerstone of Western art
