10 times witches, monsters and ghosts

From the series 10 things...

If you’re in the mood for an instant nightmare, take a look in Collection Online, where you’ll find skeletons, witches, ghosts, locks of hair, demons and monsters galore. Here’s our top 10 for Halloween!

The Carcass The Carcass

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A witches' procession by Agostino Veneziano (c. 1520)

Veneziano’s etching presents a naked witch with a fantastical retinue. She rides astride a hulking carcass, a motif borrowed from Albrecht Dürer, whose print in turn he borrowed from Mantegna.

The Carcass Agostino Veneziano after Battista Dossi (?), engraving, c. 1530

Geraamte van een mens Geraamte van een mens

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Skeleton of a man, by Jan Luyken (1680)

With his hair blowing in the breeze, this is a skeleton with swagger. What could have inspired Jan Luyken to make this etching?

Human Skeleton, Jan Luyken, after Cornelis van Dyk, 1680

Franse man draagt (ingemonteerd) hoofd op kruiwagen Franse man draagt (ingemonteerd) hoofd op kruiwagen

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French man pushing a head (added) in a wheelbarrow (c. 1900 – c. 1910)

This ‘protoshopped’ picture looks fairly innocuous. Nevertheless, it’s not a scene we’d want to pop up in our dreams. As part of the same series, this photographer also made French man at dinner with a head on the table.

Man pushing a head (added) in a wheelbarrow, c. 1900 – c. 1910

Monsterlijke heks op een bezem Monsterlijke heks op een bezem

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Demonic witch on a broomstick, by Cornelis Saftleven (1617 – 1681)

This witch is downright demonic, complete with a tail, wings and beard. She even has a flaming candle attached to her broomstick. Cornelis Saftleven is known to have produced several grisly figure studies like this one.

Demonic Witch on a Broomstick, Cornelis Saftleven

De heks De heks

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The witch, by Albrecht Dürer (1498 – 1502)

In art, witches seem to be constantly on the go. In the case of this image by Albrecht Dürer – which served as a model for Veneziano’s print – the witch is using a goat and four putti to get around.

De heks

Man verjaagt een spook met een degen Man verjaagt een spook met een degen

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Man fends off a ghost with a dagger (1885 – 1920)

In the Rijksmuseum collection you’ll find not only witches, but ghosts as well. This photograph shows a man who has courageously drawn his dagger to fend off a nearly invisible ghost.

Man fends off a ghost with a dagger, anonymous, 1885 – 1920

Hanger met cachet met de Dood Hanger met cachet met de Dood

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Pendant in the shape of Death (c. 1600)

At Halloween we spotlight not only ghosts, demons and witches, but also personifications of death. For the person who wore this pendant, it served as a constant reminder of their own mortality.

Pendant in the shape of Death, anonymous, c. 1600

Omori Hikoshichi komt een spook tegen Omori Hikoshichi komt een spook tegen

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Omori Hikoshichi Encounters a Demon, by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, 1889

Appearances can be deceiving. Here, Omori Hikoshichi thinks he’s carrying a beautiful lady, but the reflection cast by the moonlight on the water reveals her true nature: a horrific horned demon. Poor soul…

Omori Hikoshichi Encounters a Demon, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, 1889

O-Iwa het lantaarn spook O-Iwa het lantaarn spook

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Oiwa the Lantern Ghost, by Katsushika Hokusai (1830)

Ghost stories are ever-popular in Japan. Oiwa is a sad ghost. Her husband falls in love with another woman, and in the ensuing drama Oiwa’s face is disfigured by poison. Her revenge is to commit suicide and haunt him.

Oiwa the Lantern Ghost, Katsushika Hokusai, 1830

Enscenering van skeletten van een mens en van een gorilla aan tafel Enscenering van skeletten van een mens en van een gorilla aan tafel

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Tableau of human and gorilla skeletons seated at a table, by Carl Huth (1878)

In the late nineteenth century, Darwin’s theory of evolution was being hotly debated, inspiring many artworks. Carl Huth shows this human and gorilla as the best of friends, enjoying a pint together. Cheers!

Tableau of Human and Gorilla Skeletons Seated at a Table, by Carl Huth, 1878

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