
Tarot
The Lost Tarot – A Medieval Themed Tarot – 2nd Printing
by Hans Bauer
The Lost Tarot is a 78-card tarot deck featuring photo-based medieval imagery, inspired by a camera design attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. This is the 2nd printing of the deck, which successfully funded on Kickstarter in 2023.
78 cards
Where to buy
- thelosttarot.com — Visit shop
- tarotarts.com — Visit shop
About This Deck
The Lost Tarot is a 78-card deck that draws its aesthetic from medieval imagery, presented through a unique photo-based approach. The creator, Hans Bauer, conceptualized the deck around the intriguing idea of a camera designed by Leonardo da Vinci, suggesting a historical yet anachronistic method for capturing its visuals. This premise imbues the deck with a sense of historical mystery and artistic ingenuity.
This 2nd printing of The Lost Tarot follows a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2023, which raised $22,836 from 204 backers. The campaign highlights the deck's foundation in traditional tarot structure, while its visual execution offers a distinct departure from typical medieval-themed decks, which often rely on hand-drawn or painted illustrations. The use of "photo-based" imagery implies a textured, perhaps even archival, quality to the card art.
The deck aims to provide a reading experience that connects users to historical aesthetics while maintaining the symbolic depth of a full tarot system. Its unique origin story and visual style position it as a collectible item for enthusiasts of historical themes, photography, and the more unusual interpretations of tarot.
Theme and Design
The artwork for The Lost Tarot is described as "photo-based medieval imagery." This suggests a visual style that utilizes photographic techniques to render scenes and figures reminiscent of the medieval period. Given the inspiration from a hypothetical Leonardo da Vinci camera, the imagery might evoke early photographic processes, perhaps with a sepia tone, monochromatic palette, or a textured, aged appearance. This approach would differentiate it from traditional hand-drawn or painted medieval-themed decks, offering a unique blend of historical subject matter with an anachronistic artistic medium.
Key Features
- 78-card tarot deck with a full Major and Minor Arcana
- Features photo-based medieval imagery
- Conceptualized around a camera design by Leonardo da Vinci
- 2nd printing, successfully funded on Kickstarter in 2023
- Raised $22,836 from 204 backers
Who It's For
This deck is ideal for tarot collectors and readers who appreciate historical themes, particularly those with an interest in the medieval period. It will appeal to individuals seeking a unique aesthetic that blends photography with historical art, and those intrigued by conceptual art projects or alternative history narratives. Experienced readers looking for a deck with a distinctive visual texture and a strong thematic concept will find it particularly engaging.
The Story Behind This Deck
Hans Bauer created The Lost Tarot, conceptualizing it as a collection of photo-based medieval imagery captured by a camera purportedly designed by Leonardo da Vinci. This imaginative origin story underpins the deck's unique aesthetic and thematic depth. The successful Kickstarter campaign for the 2nd printing in 2023, which garnered significant support from backers, indicates a strong community interest in Bauer's distinctive vision and artistic approach to tarot.
Funded on Kickstarter · 204 backers · Launched Sep 2023 · View campaign
Last updated October 15, 2026
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