Hexenritt 1916

Christian Rohlfs created 'Hexenritt', or 'Witches' Ride', using an unknown medium to express a narrative deeply rooted in folklore. Rohlfs, working in a period of immense social change and anxiety, conjures a scene loaded with historical and cultural weight. The imagery of witches, long associated with female transgression and societal fears, is presented in a swirling composition which blends the grotesque and the mystical. The use of such imagery also provided Rohlfs with the opportunity to challenge conventional artistic and social norms by depicting the female form outside the bounds of traditional representation. This artwork speaks to the enduring power of myth and its ability to reflect society’s darkest corners, where fear and fascination intertwine, asking us to consider the narratives that shape our understanding of the ‘other’.