Witches in the Air Francisco Jose De Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828)

In Witches in the Air (originally titled Vuelo de brujas), Francisco Goya depicts a scene of dark, supernatural activity. In the upper half of the painting, against a deep black sky, a cluster of figures appears to be flying. These figures are intertwined and dismembered, with their bodies contorted in mid-air. They wear conical hats, some appearing to be fashioned from straw or other natural materials, in shades of yellow and purple. Their faces are obscured or turned away, adding to the mystery and unnerving nature of their flight. Some are unclothed, while others wear draped fabrics in green and yellow hues that seem to billow around them.

Below this aerial spectacle, on a barren, earthy landscape, a man stands cloaked in white, his face hidden by a shroud. His stance is one of terror or awe, with his arms outstretched and hands clenched. To his left, another figure lies prone on the ground, seemingly defeated or unconscious, draped in earthy tones. To the right, a small, pale donkey-like creature with pointed ears stands in the middle ground, looking towards the flying figures, its presence adding another layer of surrealism to the scene.

The painting is characterized by its dramatic chiaroscuro, with stark contrasts between light and shadow, amplifying the sense of the macabre and the unknown.

The subtexts of Witches in the Air are deeply rooted in Spanish folklore and Goyas own anxieties about superstition, ignorance, and the darker aspects of human nature.

• Superstition and Fear: The painting is a direct engagement with popular beliefs about witches and witchcraft, which were prevalent in rural Spain during Goyas time. The flying witches represent a manifestation of these fears and superstitions, possibly hinting at the irrationality and terror that such beliefs could inspire.

• Ignorance vs. Enlightenment: Created during the period known as his Black Paintings, which were painted directly onto the walls of his house, this work can be seen as a critique of blind faith and ignorance that allows superstitions to thrive. The figure on the ground might symbolize humanity passively succumbing to or being terrorized by these irrational beliefs, while the flying figures represent the dark forces themselves.

• The Irrationality of Power and Belief: The fragmented and chaotic nature of the flying figures could suggest the disarray and destructive potential of unchecked power or belief systems that lack reason. Their dismemberment can be interpreted as a metaphor for moral or spiritual decay.

• Social and Political Commentary: While not explicitly stated, Goyas Black Paintings are often interpreted as reflecting his disillusionment with the political and social climate of Spain. Witches in the Air could allude to the oppressive forces or misguided beliefs that he felt were plaguing society, stripping away reason and humanity. The presence of the donkey, often a symbol of foolishness or stubbornness, further reinforces this idea of irrationality.

• The Burden of Knowledge or Witnessing: The central figure on the ground, shrouded and seemingly overwhelmed, could represent an individual witnessing these unsettling events, perhaps grappling with a reality that defies rational explanation, or succumbing to the sheer terror of the unknown.

Ultimately, Witches in the Air is a powerful and unsettling portrayal of the forces of superstition, fear, and the irrational that haunted Goyas imagination and, by extension, the society in which he lived. It delves into the darkness of the human psyche and the power of collective anxieties expressed through folklore.