To hekse slås om et kosteskaft 1907

Oluf Hartmann made this etching, “Two Witches Fighting Over a Broomstick,” in Denmark at the beginning of the 20th century. The image depicts a chaotic scene that appears to be set at night, with the two figures intertwined in a physical struggle. The witch was a common motif in the art of this period. A figure that represents a transgressive woman, and perhaps even anxieties about the disruption of social norms. The witch was portrayed as a figure of female power, often challenging the patriarchal structures of society. The broomstick may be interpreted as a symbol of domesticity turned into a weapon of conflict. To understand this image better, we would need to research the cultural anxieties surrounding women and power in early 20th century Denmark. We can read literature of the period, consult folklore archives, and study social histories to gain insights into the cultural context in which Hartmann created this artwork.