Footnotes

arcane (adj.)
understood by few, mysterious or secret

Created in the mid-1970s, these five images by David Bowie, based upon the Thoth Tarot cards of famed British occultist Aleister Crowley, comprise the Arcane Series: Lovers, Death, Star, Moon and Earth.

They are the foremost visual representation of David Bowie's interest in the esoteric and, following occultist practice, correspond to the pathways between the sephiroth on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. The prints were produced around the same time as the writing of Station to Station (1975/1976), the Arcane Series draws from the same well of inspiration.

Bowie's 'kooky' interests and dalliances are well documented, as is the case for his lifelong intrigue and active exploration of, the esoteric and mysterious. Early, clear examples in his songwriting are heard in Quicksand from the Hunky Dory LP. (July 1971), with the bold opening lines, "I'm closer to the Golden Dawn, immersed in Crowley's uniform, Of imagery."

And it was to be Crowley's tarot set that Bowie turned to for inspiration when creating a personal series of five artworks that became known as the Arcane Series. The series of images were first intended as Christmas cards, but were published in Los Angeles in 1975 as large-size silkscreens in an edition of 50 sets, each piece hand signed, dated and numbered.

Bowie only gifted these to close friends and family on select occasions, thus they are rare and seemingly held personal meaning for Bowie to have gifted them only to those he held a bond with. As a result, it is unlikely that 50 full sets were ever issued – signed, numbered and dated – and a small number of unsigned editions have been located with former colleagues and friends, which adds weight to this theory. Few have made it to the open market, and little was known of their meaning until more recently.

They are an artistic representation of the 1975 climax of various esoteric interests Bowie had followed, a similar mass of influences that led to the Thin White Duke, 'Station to Station', his move from Los Angeles to Berlin, and much early-career activity.

Following practices of the 'Golden Dawn', Bowie used numerology to guide his choice of cards from the Major Arcana – selecting Lovers (no. VI), Death (no. XIII), Star (no. XVII), Moon (no. XVIII) and Earth/Universe (no. XXI). The sum of these cards equates to 75; 1975 being the year he created the artworks.


Provenance
David Bowie, U.S.A., 1975
Private Collection, U.K. (RCA Label Executive, gifted by Bowie late-1970s)
Acquired from the above by the present owner, 2019

Exhibited
London, 28 Cork Street, The Gallery, David Bowie: New Afro/Pagan And Work 1975-1995, 18-29 April 1995 (another full set, edition 24/50)
London, 3 Norland Place, Masterpiece Art Ltd, BOWIE: From Major Tom to Major Arcana, 6 January–21 February 2020 (edition 25/50)

Literature
David Bowie: New Afro/Pagan And Work 1975-1995. Exhibition: The Gallery, 28 Cork Street, London (exhibition catalogue, edition 24/50)
BOWIE: From Major Tom to Major Arcana, Masterpiece Art Ltd, London (exhibition catalogue)