Atu V - The Hierophant - Thoth Tarot - Aleister Crowley 

Editor: This is Lady Frieda Harris’s “Atu V - The Hierophant - Thoth Tarot - Aleister Crowley,” a tempera painting filled with symbolism and striking figuration. It feels almost overwhelming with its complexity. How do you even begin to interpret something like this? Curator: Precisely! That feeling of being overwhelmed is a crucial starting point. This piece demands that we confront power structures. Consider Crowley's own position and the occult context. How might this imagery subvert or reinforce conventional hierarchies, whether religious, social, or gendered? Editor: So, beyond the surface-level imagery, we should consider the societal role of Crowley and the artwork's intended audience? Curator: Absolutely. Harris, as a woman artist in a largely male-dominated field, collaborates with Crowley. What does this collaboration tell us about female agency and the construction of esoteric knowledge? Do you notice any visual elements that support that idea? Editor: Well, the central figure looks powerful but almost androgynous and he holds a key, is that symbolic for gaining access to divine wisdom? Curator: It could represent that but I’m also thinking about who traditionally holds keys – the gatekeepers, those in power. But let’s also think about the creatures around the central figure. Do they seem to echo or challenge established power dynamics? What about the geometry and patterns? Editor: I see what you mean! Thinking about this painting in terms of challenging power opens a whole new way to understand it. I was stuck on the surface symbolism but viewing it through this lens reveals layers of critique. Curator: Exactly. Art serves as a potent tool for social critique and reform, encouraging dialogue and reimagining power. What have you learned today about looking at a Tarot card?