Witches' Sabbath 1580 - 1629

Jacques de Gheyn II's pen and ink drawing "Witches' Sabbath" depicts a scene of dark magic. Three figures, shrouded in cloaks and hoods, gather around a cauldron, stirring its contents with long spoons. Smoke and swirling clouds fill the sky above, hinting at supernatural forces at work. The detailed depiction of the figures and their gestures, along with the suggestive imagery of the witches' gathering, captures the anxieties surrounding witchcraft and the occult in 17th-century Europe. The drawing is a powerful reminder of the fear and superstition that gripped the era, and its intricate details offer a fascinating glimpse into the cultural climate of the time.