Faculty Advisor
Lidu Yi
Author Biographical Statement
Gisselle Mestre Delgado earned her Bachelor of Arts in Art History and a Certificate in Pre-Modern Cultures from FIU. She was also a member of the Honors College. Currently, Gisselle works as a research assistant at the Museum of Art and Design at Miami Dade College (MOAD) and assists with the Women Artists Archive Miami (WAAM). As a first-generation student from Matanzas, Cuba, her research interests focus on Latin American and women’s arts. She aspires to become a museum curator to share her passion for often untold stories and narratives. In her free time, Gisselle enjoys reading and painting.
Abstract
This journal article examines the portrayal of the witch archetype in Art History, uncovering not only the aesthetic choices made by artists but also the ways in which prevailing beliefs, moral panics, and societal anxieties have shaped these depictions. I discuss the iconography, visual imagery, literary inspirations, and historical context behind each examined artwork and artist to fully grasp this turbulent history. The term “witch” describes mythological figures with inborn or acquired magical powers. The ways these powers function differ from region and culture. However, one aspect prevails in all of them: the witch is predominantly a woman. This female archetype offers a new perspective on the history of women’s struggles in a male-dominated society. In this article, I compare artworks across time and space, analyzing the portrayal of witches by artists such as Albrecht Dürer, Remedios Varo, and Leonora Carrington. I explore the evolution of the witch archetype and its shift from demonization to empowerment, drawing parallels to the changing views of women in society.
DOI
10.25148/FIUURJ.3.1.2
Recommended Citation
Mestre Delgado, Gisselle
(2025)
"The Artistic Representation of the Witch: From Demonization to Empowerment,"
FIU Undergraduate Research Journal: Vol. 3:
Iss.
1, Article 2.
DOI: 10.25148/FIUURJ.3.1.2
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/undergraduate-journal/vol3/iss1/2
Comments
Mestre Delgado, G. (2025). “The Artistic Representation of the Witch: From Demonization to Empowerment.” FIU Undergraduate Research Journal, 3, pp. 1–9. https://doi.org/10.25148/FIUURJ.3.1.2