Although I like Crowley's paintings, there is another artistic area where I think he is underrated.
(I hope this doesn't sound like damning with faint praise, like saying Einstein would have been a great accountant.)
I reckon the Great Beast would have been a great book designer!
I think we all know the superb cover of Konx Om Pax:
...And then there is the whole of The Equinox, which I think is beautifully laid out and typeset.
Also, the linking frontispiece to his sacred books, of the Egyptian doorway with the title of the book in the central panel, that's a great idea. Is there a simple name for that Egyptian doorway emblem?
I am referring to the book's design from cover to cover; when Crowley was in full control he had a superb eye. I suppose he might have been less enthusiastic if designing another author's book (did he ever do that?). However, if he was asked to design the cover & contents of, say, The Scarlet Button, or another whodunit that he liked, I am sure he would have thought of something outstanding.
Very much agree; AC had a strong visual sense, and his graphic design work is certainly superior technically and artistically to his painting, which has gotten attention.
It seems to me that the early to mid 20th century was a time of very strong graphic design among countercultures/subcultures- other examples include the Nazis, with their Hugo Boss uniforms and strong graphic design (probably the most successful branding campaign in history), the Bolsheviks, the UK Kindred of the Kibbo Kift/Green Shirts, Wyndam Lewis/BLAST magazine, etc.
Einstein would have been a great accountant.
Albert actuall flunked his algebra course in college. He was absent-minded. The dime store near where he worked complained that he would grab pencils off the shelf, write down something, then walk off with the pencil, without paying. When he died, "they" cleaned out his desk. In the top, middle drawer "they" found a pile of his uncashed paychecks. Personally, I will not condemn or praise you for saying or thinking he would have been any kind of an accountant. I'll just do my own accounting.
Is there a simple name for that Egyptian doorway emblem?
It seems to be a takeoff from The Pylons of Maat.
Is there a simple name for that Egyptian doorway emblem?
It seems to be a takeoff from The Pylons of Maat.
Thanks for that. I shall remember it as Maaty Pylon's Philo Logos.
Here's a modification of the Pylon theory ...
Here's a modification of the Pylon theory ...
Tain't The House of God, though! (Also, is this meant to be a literal depiction of duality in action?)
...And then there is the whole of The Equinox, which I think is beautifully laid out and typeset.
Also, the linking frontispiece to his sacred books, of the Egyptian doorway with the title of the book in the central panel, that's a great idea. Is there a simple name for that Egyptian doorway emblem?
I realize it's a natural conclusion to draw that AC composed the twin djed columns/ "Egyptian doorway" motif, but is it known for a fact that he was responsible rather than one of his associates (e.g. Fuller, maybe)?
I wonder, are there any records of the design layout he had for The Book of Lies which was found in the long-lost document storage in an American warehouse in the '50s? The small amount which was revealed looked to be very aesthetically well done there as well.
NormaN Joy Conquest
(Also, is this meant to be a literal depiction of duality in action?)
It is the Twin Towers being Blasted (circa 9/11) as depicted in A Modern Taro, by me, circa 2001. It's already out of date, but you might be interested in another one ...
It is the Twin Towers being Blasted (circa 9/11) as depicted in A Modern Taro, by me, circa 2001.
Hence the "literal description of duality in action" (Towers, not Tower...)
And so the time of the (twin) "pillars of the World (Trade Center)" was not only nigh at hand, has now passed.
It's already out of date, but you might be interested in another one ...
Is this the V2 with Wernher vonBraun ? (looks a bit like Henry Kissinger there, too!)
There seems to be a comon theme running through this Modern Taro - "Force and Fire"?! (What's "The Aeon" - the Trinity test?)
N Joy
Didn't Crowley also do the book design, typesetting etc for both Book of Thoth, and Little Essays Toward Truth?
I have the Hellfire Club edition of the latter and it is gorgeously set, laid out inside, etc. Not to mention the nice rough cut pages and white quarter leather which parts I know are unique to that edition, not a facsimile.
Shiva: "It is the Twin Towers being Blasted (circa 9/11) as depicted in A Modern Taro, by me, circa 2001."
"duplexity [...] The state of being duplex" - - - (Source: https://topmeaning.com/english/duplexity )
"adjective [...] having two parts; double; twofold. [...] (of a machine) having two identical working units, operating together or independently, in a single framework or assembly." - - - (Source: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/duplexity )
Duplexity A cursory glance at the relationship existing between the Orders O.T.O. and A.˙.A.˙. by Brother AISh MLChMH - - - (Source: http://pelican-oto.org/duplexity.php )
Can Aleister Crowley's graphic design at the bottom of this posting, be understood as symbolizing said duplexity (I am particularly referring to the two columns and obvious symmetry in said graphic design)??
wrwb: No.
"Duplexity" is a claim of a particular political relationship between a certain terrestrial "A.'. A.'." claimant group, of particularly dubious antecedents, and the Caliphate "OTO".
This political power-play has nothing whatever to do with the two columns, which are the Masonic pillars of Boaz and Jachin, and yin and yang, and Binah and Chokmah
Sorry there for my vagueness. My point is; can the claim you mention be based on something from Aleister Crowley, documenting an intention to have both one internally oriented order/system and one externally oriented order/system, within his Thelema?? (The OTO you mentioned has acquired a large archive with AC related documents, that might contain something from Aleister Crowley congruent with said claim from said OTO.)
What's "The Aeon" - the Trinity test?
Well, that would be a good one, and it actually was part of the original "A Modern Taro," but it was removed in the later version (which was not so "modern").
Here's the (new) Aeon ...
Just to illustrate that the original was not all force and fire, here's the (old) Priestess ...
But here's the (new) Priestess (not so Modern) ...
Can Aleister Crowley's graphic design .... be understood as symbolizing said duplexity (I am particularly referring to the two columns and obvious symmetry in said graphic design)?
Sure. If there's two of anything, duplex is involved. In your posting pic, the bottom two, outside registers enclose two different sets of hieroglyphs ... more duality, duplexity, and "There is a division hither homeward."
"Duplexity" is a claim of a particular political relationship between a certain terrestrial "A.'. A.'." claimant group, of particularly dubious antecedents, and the Caliphate "OTO".
That's just their way of saying, "We get along, even though we exist in two different dimensions." ... "and the rest of you fakirs are fakers."
This political power-play has nothing whatever to do with the two columns, which are the Masonic pillars of Boaz and Jachin
Right. no, left. Well, correct! Bo and Jach are obviously a form of duality, but should not be confused with duplexity, which is a word that has an obvious meaning, but I never heard of before the new AA/OTO marriage.