They say never judge a book by its cover, but I totally judged this one with a stunning piece featuring the painting Circe Invidiosa by my artistic hero John William Waterhouse; and yes, the book’s contents are every bit as excellent as the cover.

Initiating readers in the fascinating and complex history of witchcraft, from the goddess mythologies of ancient cultures to the contemporary embrace of the craft by modern artists and activists, this expansive tome conjures up a breathtaking overview of an age-old tradition. Rooted in legend, folklore, and myth, the archetype of the witch has evolved from the tales of Odysseus and Circe, the Celtic seductress Cerridwen, and the myth of Hecate, fierce ruler of the moonlit night. In Witchcraft we survey her many incarnations since, as she shape-shifts through the centuries, alternately transforming into mother, nymph, and crone―seductress and destroyer.

Edited by Jessica Hundley, and co-edited by author, scholar, and practitioner Pam Grossman, this enthralling visual chronicle is the first of its kind, a deep dive into the complex symbologies behind witchcraft traditions, as explored through the history of art itself. The witch has played muse to great artists throughout time, from the dark seductions of Francisco José de Goya and Albrecht Dürer to the elegant paean to the magickal feminine as re-imagined by the Surrealist circle of Remedios Varo, Leonora Carrington, and Leonor Fini. The witch has spellbound through folktales and dramatic literature as well, from the poison apples of The Brothers Grimm, to the Weird Sisters gathered at their black cauldron in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, to L. Frank Baum’s iconic Wicked Witch of the West, cackling over the fate of Dorothy.

Throughout this entrancing visual voyage, we’ll also bear witness to the witch as she endures persecution and evolves into empowerment, a contemporary symbol of bold defiance and potent nonconformity. Featuring enlightening essays by modern practitioners like Kristen J. Sollée and Judika Illes, as well interviews with authors and scholars such as Madeline Miller and Juliet Diaz, Witchcraft includes a vast range of cultural traditions that embrace magick as spiritual exploration and creative catharsis.

About the series –

The Library of Esoterica by Taschen explores how centuries of artists have given form to mysticism, translating the arcane and the obscure into enduring, visionary works of art. Each subject is showcased through both modern and archival imagery culled from private collectors, libraries, and museums around the globe. The result forms an inclusive visual history, a study of our primal pull to dream and nightmare, and the creative ways we strive to connect to the divine.

(image above) The ethereal art work of William Blake. I highly recommend the Divine Comedy art book, also published my Taschen. Read my review for the book here.

(image below) Head Of The Medusa by Caravaggio. I was fortunate to see the original piece during my 2013 trip to Florence and it was certainly one of the highlights of my trip.

(above right) The Baba Yaga as illustrated by famed Russian artist Bilibin. His “superflat” style has influenced and inspired many a prominent artists, like Hellboy creator Mike Mignola.

(below) Dull Gret by Bruegel, the Flemish master whose art work fascinates me ceaselessly.

I’m positive the prose will make for a most engrossing read, but another big reason why I picked up the book is of course for the huge collection of art and paintings, many of which are already my favorites, and many more new ones that I am absolutely thrilled to discover and explore. If you’re like me and have a keen interest in visual imagery and art work of mythology & folklore, witchcraft, the occult and more, this volume will definitely delight you. Highly recommended.

Witchcraft – The Library of Esoterica art book details :

– Dimensions – 6.75 x 2 x 9.5 inches
– Hardcover, 520 pages
– Full color, in English

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