Legend has it that when preparing props for the James Bond film
Live and Let Die, producer
Albert Broccoli commissioned Surrealist maestro Salvador Dalíto create a custom deck of tarot cards. Inspired by his wife Gala, who nurtured his interest in mysticism, Dalí eagerly got to work, and continued the project of his own accord when the contractual deal fell through.
The work was published in a
limited art edition in 1984that has since long sold out, making Dalí
the first renowned painter to create a completely new set of cards. Drawing on Western masterpieces from antiquity to modernity (including some of his own),
Dalí seamlessly combined his knowledge of the arcane with his unmistakable wit. The result is
a surreal kaleidoscope of European art history.
TASCHEN resurrects all
78 cards in a fresh celebration of Dalí’s inimitable custom set, complete with
a booklet by renowned German tarot author Johannes Fiebig offering:
- an introduction to Dalí’s lifeand the project’s making-of
- a comprehensive explanation of each card’s composition, its meaning, and practical advice
- step-by-step instructionson how to perform readings
- ajargon-free approachsimplifying tarot for the newcomer
