Bianco Nero Tarot Review
The “Bianco Nero Tarot” is a standard 78 card Tarot deck illustrated by Marco Proietto with a booklet written by Arwen Lynch. The deck is published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. The cards measure 4.75 by 2.75 inches.
Quality:
I enjoy the cardstock of this deck. It has been the standard of recent U.S. Games decks, and there are several things that I think make it excellent stock. First, it isn’t so glossy that it creates a glare under light. It’s an almost completely matte finish with a smoothness that makes it fan well right out of the box. It’s thick enough to feel substantial, but it isn’t so thick that it feels like a piece of cardboard or a credit card. It’s pleasant to shuffle and the edges are smooth. The deck comes in a standard tuckbox, and it fits snugly inside, so you don’t have to worry about crushing the box if you stack more decks on top of it. I like that tuckboxes are compact and easy to store, but of course flap creases and weak bottoms do tend to happen to these boxes if they see a lot of love. The booklet reads smoothly and I didn’t notice any glaring typos when I read through it.
Extra Materials (Booklet):
The tuckbox booklet that comes with this deck is 63 pages long counting the “About the Artist” and blank “Notes” pages. There is an introduction to the art, design, and inspiration for the deck, as well as keywords and several sentences of additional information about each card. The booklet concludes with a spread and a sample reading.
The material is useful, modern, and specific to the deck. Due to the limited space the card descriptions are concise, but it’s a good place to double check if you are stuck on how a card fits into a spread, or if you want to check up on a symbol in one of the cards. Most of the major symbolic features are highlighted in the card descriptions. For example, here is an excerpt from the 2 of swords description: “The blindfold symbolizes the inability to see what’s going on. The swords represent objectivity and impartiality. The woman’s crossed arms suggest the need for a truce. The waxing moon hints at new beginnings that will follow the resolution of the current problem.”
Artwork:
This deck, true to its namesake, is completely black and white. Proietto’s artwork is composed of ink illustrations on paper and it is masterfully executed. His technical skill is quite evident, and I appreciated the inclusion of a roughly equal proportion of male and female figures in the cards. Each card’s expressive atmosphere is achieved with the use of line weight, crosshatching, and negative space. When you are working in black and white it can be challenging to convey vastly different moods in each card, but in my opinion, Proietto has done a phenomenal job. The booklet states that “the setting, the landscapes, and the characters’ clothes, as well as the tools, are taken from the iconography of classic decks, revisited to look neutral and ageless.” I think that this statement does an excellent job of conveying the art style of the cards.
Content:
This Tarot isn’t an exact Rider Waite clone, but it does feature most of the major symbols from the Rider Waite deck. It also incorporates elements of older decks, notably the Visconti Tarot. What this deck offers that sets it apart from other heavily Rider Waite based decks is the different visual perspectives and areas of focus in the illustrations, as well as the mood and facial expressions of the figures. The deck’s style makes it accessible for a beginner without being diluted or including blatant, and often limiting, visual cues for interpretation.
Conclusion:
I’m really excited about this deck. In my recent browsing of new Tarot releases I saw very few that opt for a more “classic” design outside of historical reproductions. I think the Bianco Nero is a great beginner deck since it incorporates so much from the Rider Waite Tarot while boasting a fresh, attractive style. The thoughtful execution and the beautiful and dignified artwork make this one an absolute winner for me. The cardstock is, in my opinion, some of the best you can find in mass market decks. If you are looking something with a Rider Waite flare that is bold, classy, attractive, and affordable – consider the Bianco Nero Tarot!
More like this… The Hermetic Tarot, Cruel Thing Tarot, The Fantod Pack, The Animalis Os Fortuna Tarot Deck
Quality: *****
Extra Materials: ****
Artwork: *****
Content: *****
Overall Score: 4.75 out of 5
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