Macbeth and the Witches 1825

Eugène Delacroix created this lithograph, Macbeth and the Witches, using ink on paper. It depicts Macbeth encountering the three witches, figures steeped in folklore as mediators of fate. Notice the cauldron at the center, around which the witches perform their ritual. The cauldron, a vessel of transformation, has ancient roots, appearing in myths and legends across cultures as a symbol of rebirth and occult power. The image of witches gathered around a cauldron is an enduring motif that transcends time, evoking primal fears and fascination. Consider how the image of the witches and the cauldron has evolved. From ancient goddesses of fate to the maligned figures of the early modern witch trials, these images reflect societal anxieties and beliefs. Think of Hecate, the Greek goddess of witchcraft, whose image shifted from a powerful deity to a figure of fear. The power of this image lies in its appeal to our collective memory, stirring deep-seated emotions tied to the unknown.