The Encounter

In this 1862 print, the famous Gustave Doré seems to bring together all the features of the witches he often portrayed, be it to illustrate fairy tales or literary works in the fantasy tradition. The setting is absolutely typical of neo-gothic romanticism: ruined medieval arcades in the middle of a forest of invasive vegetation, bathed in moonlight drowned in mist. Here, a young man in tights, doublet and feathered hat meets his destiny in the form of an old woman who is reading his cards. In her, we all recognize the image of the witch, ingrained over centuries, with her pet snake and owl and her traditional accessories of broom and cauldron.