Heks (The Witch) - Jan van de Velde (II)

A striking seventeenth-century etching by Jan van de Velde (II) depicting a witch and a gathering of grotesque figures in a dark, nocturnal setting.

This etching by Jan van de Velde (II) captures a scene of dark folklore, typical of the seventeenth-century Dutch fascination with the supernatural. The composition centres on a solitary female figure, a witch, who stands before a cauldron. She is surrounded by a collection of grotesque, demonic entities that emerge from the smoke and fire. The artist employs a high-contrast technique, using deep blacks and stark whites to create a sense of nocturnal mystery. The light source appears to emanate from the fire itself, casting dramatic shadows across the figures and the surrounding environment.

Van de Velde (II) was a master of the printmaking medium, and his technical skill is evident in the fine lines used to render the textures of the witch's hair, the goat standing beside her, and the swirling smoke. The scene includes various occult symbols, such as a skull placed on a mound to the right and the presence of a goat, which was frequently associated with witchcraft in the iconography of the period. The figures in the cauldron are depicted with exaggerated, monstrous features, reflecting the period's interest in the grotesque and the macabre.

This work belongs to a broader tradition of Dutch printmaking that explored themes beyond the domestic or religious subjects often associated with the era. It demonstrates the artist's ability to manipulate light and shadow to build a narrative atmosphere. The print invites the viewer to observe the details of the supernatural gathering, from the individual expressions of the demons to the precise gestures of the witch. It remains a compelling example of how early modern artists visualised folklore and the fears of their time through the medium of etching.