Two Witches

"Two Witches" is a striking chiaroscuro woodcut by German Renaissance artist Hans Baldung, notable as one of his first works after leaving Albrecht Dürer's studio. The piece vividly depicts two witches preparing to travel to a Witches' Sabbath using flying ointment, with a focus on the nocturnal atmosphere and supernatural themes. This Northern renaissance work is significant as one of the earliest images in Renaissance art to portray both witches flying and a Witches' Sabbath. The imagery and technique evoke the dark mysticism typical of genre painting traditions, with hints of oil-like richness in the print’s tonal shading. The work offers an intriguing glimpse into early representations of witchcraft and the supernatural.