John Bauer Tarot

John Bauer Tarot - fairy tale art from Sweden on 78 cards

John Bauer painted trolls, deep forests and lonely princesses. His work breathes melancholy, silence and something ominous. That does not make his art less appealing. Quite the opposite.

This tarot deck uses his illustrations from fairy tale books and folk tales published between 1907 and 1915. Lo Scarabeo adapted the images to follow the Rider-Waite structure. The result feels different from most decks: softer, quieter, sometimes inscrutable.

What you see on the cards

The colours are muted earth tones: green, brown, grey, occasionally a hint of blue or gold. Little contrast, many misty transitions. Bauer worked with watercolour and you can see that in the texture.

The figures are not heroic. They stand still, sit, listen. Trolls are not frightening but strangely familiar. Nature is everywhere: tree roots, rocks, dense pine forests. More happens beneath the surface than what you see directly.

The symbolism follows Rider-Waite but interprets freely. The Fool is a child in the forest. The Moon shows a troll by moonlight. Wands are branches, Swords have a rough, handcrafted character.

How this deck works in practice

This is not a deck that gives you instructions. It suggests, it lets you fill in the story yourself. That requires a reader who does not want every detail spelled out.

The guidebook gives basic information per card but remains brief. Enough to give direction, too little to hold you to fixed meanings. That suits the imagery.

Draw a card when you need an image instead of an answer. Let the illustration sink in for a few minutes before you open the guidebook.

About John Bauer

John Bauer was born in 1882 in Jönköping, Sweden. He studied at the Art Academy in Stockholm and illustrated for years for 'Bland tomtar och troll', an annually published fairy tale book.

His work became iconic in Sweden. Outside Scandinavia he remained less known, but his influence on the visual imagination of Nordic folklore is significant. In 1918 he drowned together with his wife and young son in a shipwreck. He was 36 years old.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 78
• Card size: 66 x 120 mm
• Cardstock: smooth with light gloss
• Guidebook: multilingual (English, French, German, Spanish, Italian)
• Publisher: Lo Scarabeo
• Artist: John Bauer (1882-1918)
• Tarot structure: Rider-Waite

Questions we often get

Is the guidebook in English?
Yes. The guidebook is multilingual and includes English, along with French, German, Spanish and Italian.

How dark is the atmosphere of this deck?
Not grim, but melancholic. The images are quiet and introspective. No drama, no bright colours. If you prefer light, uplifting decks this is probably not your choice.