Original watercolor and inkline depiction of “The Queen of Swords” tarot card designed for an Art Nouveau deck. This version without lettering.

I designed this piece as part of a proposal for an all-female tarot card deck to be depicted in an art nouveau style. I also wanted the women to have different ethnicities depending on suit and for the deck to combine astrological (zodiac signs) and wiccan (elements, Four Directions, seasons) components into each card in a meaningful way.

I envision Swords as an Air suit, with a Northern direction, situated during a cold and bleak winter’s day. Swords signify boldness, courage, force and ambition, as well as the spirit and the world of activities. I wanted my Queen of Swords to embody the thoughtful and serene wisdom that can come from surviving sorrow and the strength to pursue mastery in the world despite it. She says, “I Think”, “I Balance” and “I Envision”. Her sword represents the spirit penetrating matter and informing it. I envision all the women in the Swords suit as being Asian. This Queen sits on a gothic wooden throne in a cold and stormy landscape grasping her owl-adorned sword and a silver flute. Keen, pensive and quick-witted, she is surrounded by familiars: steadfast and devoted hounds as well as black ravens, harbingers of strife and misfortune. Her silver crown is etched with the zodiac symbols Aquarius, Gemini and Libra. All Swords are depicted in dark and moody somber tones.

This original artwork is copyright Ramona Szczerba 2010. Copyright is not transferable with the sale of this item. The buyer is not entitled to any reproduction rights – image cannot be reproduced without my express written permission. Thanks!