The History and Style of the Tarot de Marseille

The Tarot de Marseille (TDM) does not refer to a single deck, but rather to a style or a family of decks that became popular in the city of Marseille, France, starting in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Visual Characteristics

The TDM has an unmistakable visual style that differentiates it from more modern decks, such as the Rider-Waite-Smith:

• Primary and Key Colors: The illustrations use a limited and strong color palette (red, blue, yellow, green, flesh tone), applied in solid blocks and without many shading effects.
• Absence of Scenes in the Minors: In the Minor Arcana, cards 2 through 10 do not feature scenes or figures illustrating the meaning (unlike the RWS); they merely show the geometric arrangement of the suits (Wands, Swords, Cups, and Coins/Pentacles). Interpretation is done through intuition and the symbolism of patterns and numbers.
• Line Art: The strokes are simple and robust, reminiscent of the popular art style from the time of woodblock printing (woodcut).

The Philosophy: Intuitive and Numerological Reading

The strength of the Tarot de Marseille lies in its simplicity, which forces the reader to use pure intuition and archetypal numerology.

• The reader does not rely on a pictorial scene to get a story, but rather on the position, the direction the figures are looking, the number of the card, and the interaction of the colors.
• Figures in the Major Arcana often look to the right (the future) or to the left (the past), and their alignment with adjacent cards is crucial.

WARNING: It is important to note that this product is sold for esoteric and ritual purposes. Its use, like that of any esoteric item, is based on the intention, faith, and belief of the user.