History and symbols
How did the Rider-Waite-Smith change the Minor Arcana?
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Before the Rider-Waite-Smith, the Minor Arcana in decks like the Marseille showed only the suit symbol repeated to match the card's number. In 1909, Pamela Colman Smith illustrated each one with a scene. That turned cards like the Three of Swords or the Ten of Cups into images with their own story.
What the numbered cards looked like before
In Marseille decks, the Five of Cups shows five cups arranged in the design, with ornaments between them. There is no character, setting or gesture. The reader knew the suit and the number, and the meaning came from the combination or from a memorized system.
This is not a flaw. Many people read Marseille with great richness precisely because they must build the interpretation from patterns. But it is a kind of reading that demands more prior knowledge.
What the Rider-Waite-Smith did differently
In the 1909 deck, the numbered cards gained a human situation. The Three of Swords shows a heart pierced by swords under the rain, the Four of Cups shows a seated person ignoring a cup being offered, and the Ten of Swords shows a man lying fallen with blades in his back.
The scene lets you read without memorizing. Instead of remembering that the Ten of Swords means the end of a painful cycle, the reader sees what is happening and interprets from what they feel. This change is what made the Rider-Waite-Smith so sought after by beginners.
- Three of Swords: a pierced heart, associated with pain and heartbreak.
- Four of Cups: a person with arms crossed, tied to apathy or inattention.
- Ten of Swords: a fallen figure, tied to a hard ending that also makes room for a fresh start.
Where these scenes came from
It is common to cite the Sola Busca, a fifteenth-century Italian deck with scenes on the numbered cards, as a source of inspiration for Smith. This hypothesis is frequent in studies of the subject, but it should not be treated as certain, because the exact reasons for her choices are not fully documented.
What can be said is that illustrating every card was a striking innovation and that it shaped modern tarot. Many contemporary decks follow the same model of one scene per card.
Frequently asked questions
- Have the Minor Arcana always had scenes?
- No. In classic Marseille decks, the numbered cards show only the suit symbols. Full scenes on every card became popular with the Rider-Waite-Smith.
- Can you read tarot without scenes on the Minor Arcana?
- You can. Marseille readers do this often, relying on number, suit and position in the spread. It is a different style that takes a bit more study at the start.
- Who drew the scenes of the Rider-Waite-Smith?
- Pamela Colman Smith, following guidance from Arthur Edward Waite. The visual work is hers, and today her name is often part of the deck's title.
Educational content, for reflection. Tarot does not replace medical, legal or financial advice.