Alchemy & Mysticism The Hermetic Cabinet is by Alexander Roob. Roob is an artist, into line drawings and the author of a few things on art.  I suspect him of being a closet alchemist because of the relative obscurity of his text, but then, one buys this book for its art. It makes the price seem more than manageable and probably partly explains the book’s constant reissue and apparent continuing sales.

If you look at his art (“line drawings” link above) you’ll have a pretty good idea of what his prose is like. One the first page of his introduction (approximately 300 words) he talks about puzzle pictures (or hieroglyphics), Hermes Trismegistus, Thoth, the concept of the psychopompos, the “emerald tablet” Hermeneutics, alchemical literature, Jacob Böhme, Romanticism, German idealism and modern literature. In 300 w0rds.

I wonder if he draws that way, the line flowing out and around a variety of shapes to, finally, cohere into a recognizable shape?

The problem with text (as opposed to graphic or pictorial communication) is that text requires a different kind of order, one that builds a path for the reader to follow. It may (and should) offer views of distant prospects, and glimpses of future paths, but the bricks under one’s feet should never simply vanish. A really good writer can make one question their solidity, but to make them invisible? Vertigo is not conducive to successful navigation.

Nevertheless I do not regret the book’s purchase. The collection of art is wonderful and feels like a significant pictorial reference despite the fact that it only amounts to 191 small-format pages. Roob collects the images (many in glorious colour) into sections pertaining to the general alchemical subject: genesis, resurrection, philosophical tree, conjunctio, mandala, serpent.

The two pictures below are my favourite. They are from a section called “Aurora” and are out of 16th century London. They are why I bought the book.

Gorgeous.