Hey! up the chimney, lass! Hey after you! 1911

Editor: Here we have "Hey! up the chimney, lass! Hey after you!" a drawing by Arthur Rackham from 1911. The wispy lines and earthy tones create such a surreal and fantastical mood. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The enduring power of archetypes. Look closely. The image resonates with a potent mix of dread and delight associated with witches – figures haunting our collective imagination across centuries. These aren’t just illustrations, but embodiments of cultural anxieties and fantasies projected onto women, specifically. Editor: That's interesting. How does Rackham use symbolism to create those feelings? Curator: Observe the dynamic composition. The figures are set against the backdrop of an implied town below, aren't they? The landscape emphasizes their liminal status, betwixt and between the mundane and the magical. Their flight signifies transgression, breaking free from earthly bounds and societal expectations. Note the silhouetted black cats amidst them. Can we interpret this as Rackham playing with established symbology? Editor: Yes, I see that. Cats are considered the witch's familiar. It’s so interesting to consider it’s reflecting both old ideas and modern symbolism at once. Curator: Indeed! This duality, this echo of the past reverberating within a modern artistic lens, is what grants the piece its continued significance. It reminds us that even our deepest fears and wildest dreams are rooted in something… older. Editor: So it acts as a visual link, tying together centuries of beliefs and stories. Thanks, that really makes you think! Curator: It certainly does, doesn’t it?