The present-day association of tarot with fortune-telling and the occult only gained popularity in the nineteenth century. Indeed, according to an article by Tim Husband – an esteemed curator within The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters –the earliest references to tarot all date back to the 1440s and 1450s and fall within four cities: Venice, Milan, Florence, and Urbino.Husband explains that tarot was initially a simple card game of trick taking involving the original, standard Italian suits, alongside 21 trump cards and a fool. The designer often had his cards read by the psychic Madame Delahaye prior to his shows.Though it is a psychic skill that can be picked up by anyone who is spiritually minded, many are unaware of the history behind the practice.What are the origins of tarot?Tarot is no new thing. According to Williams, who has been teaching herself tarot over the last four years, Christian Dior himself was a deep believer in tarot. Via GIPHYIn a recent interview with British Vogue while getting ready for a Christian Dior show, actor Maisie Williams revealed her personal favourite pre-fashion show ritual: a tarot card reading.
