The Witch 1850

Henri-Charles-Antoine Baron created this lithograph, titled "The Witch," sometime in the 19th century. The Romantics had a fascination with the occult and irrational and a rise in occultism appeared to be a direct challenge to the post-Enlightenment. Baron uses the figure of the witch to explore themes of power, gender, and the supernatural. The witch was often portrayed as an outcast, a figure of subversion, and, during the Romantic era, was reimagined as an enigmatic woman. The image creates meaning through the witch’s clothing that evokes ideas of fortune tellers. This artwork reflects the social structures of the time, where women who did not conform to societal norms were often stigmatized and feared. Looking through the archives of folklore and popular literature from 19th century France can teach us much about the cultural significance of figures like "the witch".