The so-called “witch hunts” (or the period of obscurantism) represent one of the darkest chapters in European history between the 15th and 18th centuries. It is impossible to determine with certainty how many people fell victim to this persecution.

The most rigorous academic studies estimate that there were at least 90,000 witchcraft trials and approximately 45,000 executions, with eight out of every ten victims being women. The most common accusations included the practice of black magic, participation in satanic rituals, and, above all, having made a pact with the Devil, supposedly granting them the power to cast harmful spells.

At the same time, the daily chronicles of violence against women remind us that, despite undeniable progress in gender equality, women continue to face persecution whenever they attempt to transcend the traditional roles of family, motherhood, and partnership.

With Witches and Spells, I wanted to pay tribute to the women who lived through this dark period of history. For this project, I drew inspiration from female figures depicted in renowned paintings, using the lighting techniques characteristic of European painting from the 15th to the 17th centuries. Alongside this series of ten portraits, I have included ten photographs of flowers under the evocative title Spells.