tapestry
Yes, I'm interested in this one, too....beautiful art work and imagery!
Once again Nemia you have put beautifully into words what I felt but couldn't express. 'stringent visually', perfect. I have several prints from Sevenfold Mystery (aside he doesn't seem to offer prints anymore) and via Burning Serpent his style has gradually changed.I find that his earlier work was more stringent visually and to me, more pleasing.
I agree, the cards were better off without the color gradients. But looking at his work I think he really sons for a style that is only outlines and colors. When I looked at the cards this morning I was very pleased. Nevertheless I liked the Hermit cards from the Sevenfold Mystery and the Alchemical better. (One of the most important cards to me)The Moon reminds me of Simeon Salomon's paintings of the moon - I'm sure Robert Place knows the Jewish Pre-Raphaelite.
Another association was Carol Ockman's article about "Two large eyebrows a l'Orientale: ethnic stereotyping in Ingres’ Baronne de Rothschild" - a Jewish topic and such strong eyebrows!!!!
It looks interesting and I'm sure there will be a wonderful book about it. It seems to me that this deck is as far removed from "mainstream" Judaism as his Saints deck from "mainstream" Catholicism; it draws on mystical traditions and esoteric teachings.
But not all the cards reach the artistic heights of some of Place's earlier works, IMO. I find the Sun really disturbing. I hope Place won't turn into a caricature of his own style. I usually love his flatness, rigidity and Classicist imperturbability (is there such a word?), but he takes it really very very far here.
He has lost the heavy cross hatch of his earlier style and replaced it color gradients - that's a pity IMO. Crosshatch is a linear device and suits his style that's based on linear art like Hypnerotomachia wood prints. Color gradients in this precise perfection scream: computer! And they counteract the flatness of his work. No, I find that his earlier work was more stringent visually and to me, more pleasing.