Over the course of millennia, astrology has been regarded as a science, an art, a black magic, and, now, mostly a pop-culture phenomenon. But humans have long sought guidance from the stars and artists, inspiration. From the Limbourg brothers’ detailed cosmic calendars that grace the pages of the 15th-century book of hours made for the Duc de Berry, to Hilma af Klint’s mystical sign-filled paintings created by channelling and meditation in the 20th century, the visual record of the dance of celestial bodies is as varied as it is timeless.
Our collective fascination with the cosmos and its influence on Earth and its inhabitants is beautifully illustrated by artists spanning centuries in Taschen’s latest addition to its Library of Esoterica series, the volume
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Not so long ago, the discovery of esoteric knowledge was a rite unto itself, requiring research and travel, as many dead ends as discoveries. Today, these quests are as simple as a Google search, a glance at an astrology app or a scroll through Instagram, where the hashtag #witchesofinstagram will lead you to nearly 6 million posts.
The democratization of the arcane is a welcome development, but the mystery of the occult will never lose its allure. The Library of Esoterica, a new series from the art book publisher Taschen, acts as a bridge between the dark halls of history and the vast data at our fingertips. Created by a team based in Los Angeles, the series debuted in August with “Tarot”; volume two, “Astrology