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Pamela Colman Smith’s divinatory illustrations. The Rider-Waite-Smith deck at the Whitney Museum.

In November 2022, I visited the Whitney Museum in New York City in search of Georgia O’Keeffe’s The White Calico Flower. Not one of her most famous works, but a work I have seen many times on view.

The gray painting is a source of inspiration for a novel I have been writing. I wanted to see it again, stand in front of it, take notes. Try to understand its significance to my work, which is mysterious to me.

When I arrived on the floor where I expected to find the painting, I did not find it. I found tarot cards. A complete set (printed c. 1920-30) spread under glass in the middle of the gallery.

Pamela Colman Smith designed the cards in 1909. Her deck is the most widely recognizable deck today, though she was poorly compensated for her art. It is often referred to as ‘the traditional deck’, although there are older decks dating back to the 15th century.

My first tarot deck was the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. I bought it in 1983.

Since I could not find The White Calico Flower, I took notes on the cards.

Colman Smith’s deck was part of an exhibition At the Dawn of a New Age: Early 20th Century. American Modernism (May 2022 - February 2023). O’Keeffe hangs in the background.
Colman Smith designed the deck in six months (!) in 1909. The deck on view was printed c. 1920-30 and is part of the Whitney’s Special Collections.

Georgia O’Keeffe, White Calico Flower.

Pamela Colman Smith at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

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