The one and only drawing you see in my gallery is not mine. Unfortunately, I don't have the slightest talent...

This work is a commission I asked to hello-heidi. Her page can be found here: [link]

I came up with the crazy idea to have a custom-made tarot deck made for me by various artists I like. The major arcanes would be represented by famous - and infamous - historical figures.

This one is Arcane XV - the Devil.
A frightening figure to come across.
As every tarot card, Arcane XV has two meanings - a positive, and a negative side.
The Devil is death, destruction, betrayal, lies, the dark side of human passions. And he can also be creative power, lust for life and sexual energy.
His left hand points to the sky, for he is a fallen angel, but still has some divine spark buried deep inside him. His right hand holds a blade, or fire, or both: a symbol of authority as well as the power of life and death.

Two young women lay at the Devil's feet. The scared one wears white for she is Good, enslaved and chained to the Devil's throne. The smiling one is dressed like a harlot, and she is a servant, a dark witch who gave herself willingly to the dark side.

To represent the Devil I chose Reinardt Heydrich, one of the most feared high-ranking officials of the Third Reich. The Hangman, the Butcher...but also a very smart, cultured and educated intellectual.
His pale boyish face contrasts with the blackness of the uniform of one of the most feared military organisations known to mankind - the SS.
Cold stone cruelty and innocence - a good metaphor for the Devil's dual nature: fallen archangel, and demon.

The Devil's card is always a warning: it tells us that we are always free - free to choose between Darkness and Light. And that if we don't control the dark side of our instincts, they will control us. With disastrous consequences - for us, as well as for others.

The original can be found here: [link]

Please comment over there if you like!