baba-prague said:
If you want this tarot to be a good starter deck to help people understand the Marseilles, then I think it's particularly important with cards like this to try to make sure they are easily understood - but I'm sure I am, as the saying goes, teaching my grandmother to suck eggs here!
I am not so sure about the tongue sticking out.
Baba-prague - I've been trying to figure out how to say how much I value your input on this. It has taken me a while to understand your point thoroughly and so thank you for making me think. This type of discussion teaches me a lot so I value it very highly indeed.
I do think that the historical facts as to where the image comes from is important for a beginner to understand. The idea that traitors were hanged in this way isn't necessarily to say that this example is in anyway tragic. He's sticking out his tounge and waggling his fingers and generally having a good laugh.
I've become convinced that The Hanged Man is about the perception that humans beings are their physical bodies when in fact they are spiritual beings first. I feel my depiction helps put this across better than a more beatific expression might.
I guess I'm saying to quote Bob "de gustibus non est disputandum."
I can see I'm going to have to write a book to accompany this deck.
I do think the card benefits from the darker hair - it just graphically works better than the yellow hair - there is a better balance with the colours.
Firemaiden - Cannot the rays of the sun be depicted in every (and thus any) colour?