The Witch 1900

Alfred Kubin made this disturbing drawing, ‘The Witch,’ using pen and ink sometime in the early twentieth century. It depicts a woman perched atop a tree stump, beneath which dangle a series of hanged figures. This nightmarish scene reflects the cultural anxieties of its time. Drawing from the tradition of Symbolism, Kubin evokes the irrationality and brutality he felt was lurking beneath the surface of modern society. The image visualizes institutional violence in its most literal form. Here, the witch is seated high on a pedestal, a feature of the image which suggests the authority granted to her by the institutions of power. The image also creates meaning through its use of visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. To understand it better we might need to delve into historical studies of witchcraft and the symbolism of trees in folklore. The meaning of art is contingent on social and institutional context, which can be unlocked through research.