The History of Tarot Symbolism – Talk & Soirée

Art history meets magic.

On a rare London visit, Laetitia Barbier joins Christina Oakley Harrington on the Treadwell's sofa to discuss the enchanting history of tarot symbolism – for one night only. From the Renaissance Italian painters, to Marseille woodcut artists, to Victorian London occultism, the changing meanings of the cards are traced throughout the ages. A drinks party follows, with complimentary wine. We promise a fun evening of striking insights, remarkable stories, and scholarly expertise.

Laetitia will be available on the night to sign copies of her acclaimed book, Tarot Divination Cards: A Visual Archive, which traverses 'the cross-roads of the medieval imaginarium, Western esoteric wisdom, folklore, and also contemporary art and pop culture'. Audience members will also get to enjoy our in-store exhibition of over 50 vintage tarot card decks from the 1970s-1990s. 

Laetitia Barbier gained her BA in Art History from the Sorbonne (Paris) in 2009 and went on to apply her knowledge to a decades-long study of the imagery of tarot cards. She is now a renowned world expert on tarot symbols and their meanings, as well as being an avid reader of the cards. She has lectured, taught and read cards for cultural institutions including the New York Public Library, Artyard, and Fotografiska NY. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. 

This event is free for membership tiers Friends and Treadwelfs.