Carlos Pumeriega, Madrid - Tarot de Pumariega

Tarot de Pumariega

This Tarot deck was drawn in 1989 by Madrid-based artist Carlos Pumariega and first printed in 1990 by Fournier. The creator of the cards reports that he began work in early October and finished it in December 1989. As sources of inspiration he named various reference books, the Tarot cards themselves as well as their symbols, figures and colors. He also mentions collaboration with experts and “Lola,” the landlady from his neighborhood. Pumariega describes the technique used as mixed media (tempera and ink). His artistic style, apart from an immediate resemblance to other modern artists, has independent features within the boundaries of abstraction, modernity and futurism. Although the illustrations reflect the spirit of the 1980s, the art in which the cards are designed is timeless. The colors are vivid, and the images convey a certain lightheartedness, boldness and above all humor and expressiveness. The deck itself is largely based on the traditional Tarot of Marseille, and as with this deck, the Minor Arcana (except for Aces and court cards) are not fully illustrated, but show only the symbol of the element and the corresponding quantity (number).

The deck is complete with all 78 cards and an instruction sheet (in English, French and Spanish). The cards have never been laid out. The packaging shows minimal signs of storage wear.