“Arcana 3 and 4, the Empress and the Emperor, stand for the archetypes of mother and father. So from Harry’s perspective I decided they’d have to be Lily and James.
James is shown with his animagus form, the stag, seeing that that ability of his had so much influence throughout the story, by determining both Harry’s and ultimately, through Lily, even Snape’s patronus.
I wanted to contrast his surroundings from those of Lily by showing her in a form of domesticated nature in a garden, and his out in the wild of the forest.
Again I worked with the actor who portrayed him in photos and as a ghost. I also used stock from :iconailinstock: as reference for the cloaked torso and hand holding the staff
As a card the Emperor signifies the male order of things. Patriarchy has gotten a bad rap since the 19th century – two world wars instigated and fought by men and the rape of the natural world by 19th century ideas of capitalism will do that to you – but there are positive sides to it as well: civilization, laws and rules of society, science and research that cures and improves mankind’s lot, the willingness to take the lead, to take responsibility, to provide and to keep the weak ones safe are also attributes of this card.
The Emperor and Empress work best when they are in harmony, when they respect each other’s strengths and weaknesses and support each other. The Empress out of control is tsunamies and earthquarkes, the natural world grinding us into the ground to reshape mankind into the next experiment of evolution without regard for intelligence, beauty or emotion. The Emperor out of control is polluted air, radioactive waste, the intricacies of science abused to kill the earth and other people for the illusion of absolute power and control.”
Commentary
Image title supplied by the artist.
The stag is such a powerful animal, as is the emperor a powerful figure.