Departures Tarot

The Departures Tarot, created by Nicholas Jacobs, is a 78-card deck that draws its aesthetic and philosophical underpinnings from the New Objectivity (Neue Sachlichkeit) art movement of the 1920s Weimar Republic. This influence is evident in the deck's stark, unsentimental portrayal of figures and scenes, emphasizing clarity and a grounded, often critical, view of reality. The artwork avoids romanticism or excessive embellishment, opting instead for a direct and somewhat austere visual language.

The deck's visual style is characterized by a limited color palette dominated by muted earth tones, grays, and blacks, with occasional accents of deep orange or ochre. Figures are often rendered in a simplified, almost sculptural manner, conveying emotion and narrative through posture and interaction rather than detailed facial expressions. This approach encourages an intuitive reading experience, where the reader connects with the archetypal energies presented through the minimalist yet powerful imagery.

While the specific system it follows is not explicitly stated, the presence of cards like "The World" and "Page" suggests a traditional tarot structure with Major and Minor Arcana, and named court cards. The deck aims to provide a tool for introspection and objective self-reflection, aligning with the New Objectivity's focus on realism and a departure from subjective expressionism.

This deck is ideal for experienced tarot readers and collectors who appreciate art history, particularly the New Objectivity movement and early 20th-century modernism. It appeals to those who prefer a stark, minimalist aesthetic over traditional or overly ornate designs. Readers seeking a deck for deep introspection and objective self-reflection, rather than lighthearted or whimsical readings, will find its serious tone and powerful imagery resonant.