The association between women and witchcraft has always existed but began to intensify around the 14th century. Between the 15th and 17th centuries, there was a peak in witch-hunting, fueled by religious, social, and political factors. Nearly 80% of those accused of witchcraft were women. This was because women were seen as more "susceptible" to sin and temptation due to prevailing patriarchal beliefs. Midwives, healers, or women living outside societal norms were frequent targets, solidifying the link between women and witchcraft and portraying them as inherently connected to the devil and prone to witchcraft.
The relationship between feminism and witchcraft feels natural: both challenge patriarchal systems and celebrate female empowerment, autonomy, and a connection to nature. Witchcraft can also be interpreted as a metaphor for resistance against oppression, often associated with wisdom, intuition, and spiritual freedom.
Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo were painters and close friends who shared a deep connection. Both challenged the societal norms of their time, embracing independence and unconventional lifestyles. Their work often explored themes of female autonomy, transformation, and mystical worlds, drawing inspiration from alchemy, esotericism, and magical practices.
Carrington’s art and writings depicted strong, mystical women engaged in rituals and transformations, reclaiming the power traditionally denied to women. Her feminist perspective challenged patriarchal norms by celebrating female identity, intuition, and creativity. Similarly, Varo’s works depicted enigmatic, otherworldly scenes where female figures were central—often as creators, seekers, or spiritual beings. She explored themes of self-discovery, transcendence, and the connection between nature and the cosmos, integrating esoteric knowledge and personal symbolism.
Both artists embraced the concept of witchcraft not only as a spiritual practice but also as a metaphor for feminine wisdom and power, creating works that were radical, mystical, and feminist at their core.
In my painting, I have digitally created an artwork inspired by studying the art of Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo. I abstracted forms without using AI, bringing the original message of these artists into the present with post-contemporary tools. My purpose is to translate their visual and conceptual experiences using technology as a substitute for traditional oil painting. Images, characters, and symbols tear apart, melt, and transform. Everything becomes disarticulated and dismembered. The result is a number of graphic marks, geometric-organic forms, stains, drippings, and the digital resources we use today.
Witchcraft is a tribute to these painters and to all the women who were unjustly accused, tortured, unfairly judged, and killed for being independent, genuine, and living outside societal norms.