Witches in Flight Print, Ulrich Molitor, 1489 – Witchcraft Illustration, Medieval Poster, Occult Wall Decor, Demons & Beast Print, Rustic Antique Home Art #319

This Witches in Flight Print is a faithful reproduction of one of the most iconic early depictions of witchcraft — a woodcut from Ulrich Molitor’s De lamiis et phitonicis mulieribus (1489), one of the earliest printed books about witches. The scene shows two witches and a demon soaring through the air on a cleft stick, their heads transformed into those of animals — an eerie visualization of the shape-shifting powers attributed to witches in late medieval folklore. One of the witches wields a bow and arrow, reinforcing the idea of the witch as both a magical and a dangerous figure.

A Landmark in the Visual History of Witchcraft

This image is widely regarded as the earliest printed depiction of witches in flight, a motif that would dominate European witchcraft iconography for centuries to come. Molitor’s woodcut brings together elements of demonology, folklore, and fear of the supernatural, showing the witches not only in flight but in collaboration with a devilish figure — a clear statement of their supposed pact with dark forces.

Available as a fine art print on antiqued paper for an authentic 15th-century look, or on canvas for a bold, dramatic effect. Delivered unframed, ready for custom framing to complement your medieval, occult, or gothic-themed interior.

Symbolism and Esoteric Meaning

• The Witches – Represent transformation, liminality, and forbidden knowledge.

• Animal Heads – A reference to shape-shifting and the idea of witches taking on bestial forms to travel to sabbaths.

• The Demon – A psychopomp figure guiding the witches, symbolizing the pact between humanity and infernal powers.

• The Cleft Stick – Represents magical flight, a symbol of transgression and escape from the earthly realm.

• The Bow and Arrow – Suggests witchcraft as both an art of harm and a form of spiritual or magical power.

Historical and Cultural Context

Ulrich Molitor (1442–1507) was a legal scholar and author whose treatise De lamiis et phitonicis mulieribus (On Witches and Divining Women) was among the earliest printed works to deal with the witchcraft phenomenon in a legal and theological framework. His text, paired with these vivid woodcuts, shaped the visual and intellectual understanding of witchcraft at the dawn of the European witch hunts.

This image not only documents early modern fears about female magic but also reflects the rich intersection of law, religion, and popular imagination at the end of the Middle Ages.

Why Choose This Print?

• Authentic reproduction of a rare 15th-century woodcut

• Available on antiqued paper for historical accuracy or canvas for a striking display

• Unframed – ready for custom framing

• Perfect for collectors of witchcraft history, medieval illustration, and occult imagery

• A fascinating and educational piece of art history, suitable for study spaces, libraries, or esoteric interiors

Perfect For

• Historians and students of witchcraft trials and demonology

• Collectors of medieval art and occult imagery

• Gothic and rustic home decorators

• Enthusiasts of early printmaking and woodcut art

• Witchcraft practitioners and esoteric scholars seeking historical inspiration

More Than Just a Witch Print

This Witches in Flight Print (#319) is more than a medieval illustration — it is a milestone in the history of witchcraft representation, capturing the moment when folklore, fear, and printing technology combined to create one of the most enduring images of the witch in Western imagination.

👉 Order your Witches in Flight Print today and own a piece of occult history — perfect for witchcraft lovers, medieval enthusiasts, and collectors of esoteric art.

Canvas vs. Hand-Made Paper — Print Comparison Guide