As autumn begins, Hyperallergic's seasonal tarotscope brings together tarot, astrology and creative practice through a reflective reading designed for artists and culture-minded audiences.
This edition draws inspiration from the Visconti-Sforza tarot deck, a 15th-century collection associated with the Milanese Visconti and Sforza families. Believed to have been created by the studio of Bonifacio Bembo, the surviving set offers a rare window into the early visual language of tarot.
Unlike the familiar 78-card format used today, the historical deck contains just 35 surviving cards. The reading adapts this limited collection through a printed stand-in deck and a large language model, selecting only cards represented in the original set.
A Seasonal Lens for Creativity
Built around a simple past-present-future spread, the tarotscope considers the transition into fall as an opportunity for reassessment. Additional cards assigned to astrological signs add individual perspectives to the collective reading.
The format places artistic work at the center of its inquiry: what ideas, habits and collaborations can creators carry forward as the season changes? By connecting centuries-old imagery with contemporary creative life, the project positions tarot as both a visual archive and a tool for personal reflection.
The renewed interest in historical tarot suggests that heritage art forms can continue to inspire new methods of storytelling, interpretation and creative discovery.
