Vintage Witchcraft Art: The Evolution of Mystical-Themed Art in the 19th and Early 20th Centuries

There’s something truly magical about vintage witchcraft art, isn’t there? When we look back at the art of the 19th and early 20th centuries, we find a rich, mystical aesthetic that still captivates us today. Imagine tarot cards with intricate details, elaborately illustrated grimoires, and paintings that evoke a sense of mystery and the supernatural. These works weren’t just about beauty—they hinted at something deeper, tapping into our shared fascination with the unknown.

So, let’s step into this era when the mystical met the artistic, and explore how occultism and spiritualism influenced art to create a world of witches, spirits, and symbols that have echoed through time...

Milanese Court Painter: Bembo Bonifacio, Female Knight (Swords, 1428-1447). 

Visconti Tarot from the Cary Collection of Playing Cards

Wood Engraver: Nicholas Conver ,Tarot Card from Tarot de Marseilles, c. 1760

Artist: Pamela Coleman Smith, The Empress, c. 1909, The Rider-Waite Smith Deck

Artist: Frieda Harris, The Thoth Deck, c. 1969

The Rise of Occultism and Spiritualism in Art

In the 19th century, Europe and North America were experiencing a full-blown fascination with the occult. Seances, spiritualist gatherings, and an interest in the afterlife were everywhere, and artists couldn’t resist capturing these mystical themes. Artists were drawn to the mysterious, and their works reflected this hunger for otherworldly beauty and understanding.

Tarot cards, for example, became an art form of their own. Far beyond being a simple deck of cards, they were painstakingly crafted with symbolic imagery that called upon ancient wisdom and archetypes. The symbols used—pentacles, the wheel of fortune, the star—carried layers of meaning and were designed to guide the reader in mystical insights. To hold a deck of vintage tarot cards even now feels like holding a piece of history imbued with magic. Many decks from this time, like the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, are still popular today, speaking to how deeply they resonate.

Imagine scanning a richly coloured 19th-century tarot card, its edges worn, the colours faded but still vibrant. Each symbol, each figure, feels as if it’s whispering a long-lost story. It's so magickally delicious, isn't it?!

The Spellbinding Elegance of Art Nouveau

One of my favourite periods of mystical art is the Art Nouveau era. With its swirling, organic patterns and a profound connection to nature, Art Nouveau became a natural home for witchy themes. Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939), one of the movement’s most iconic artists, was known for his ethereal portrayals of women enveloped in flowing gowns, flowers, and intricate patterns that seemed to come to life. These women often had an otherworldly quality—goddess-like and mystical, representing themes of transformation and beauty.

Mucha’s work doesn’t explicitly scream “witchcraft,” but there’s an undeniable magical quality to his pieces. They evoke a sense of enchantment, of stepping into a world where the boundary between the human and the divine is blurred. Other artists in the movement similarly celebrated this mystical femininity, transforming the female figure into a symbol of power, nature, and mystery.

Imagine an Art Nouveau poster—think flowing lines, rich colours, a figure framed by plants and intricate designs. It feels like a spell cast in colour and form. Mucha's work is most definitely a beautiful way to bring visual magic into your home!

Arthur Rackham and the Witchy Worlds of Folklore and Fantasy

As we move into the early 20th century, the fascination with witchcraft took a new direction, embracing both playfulness and darkness. Arthur Rackham (1867-1939), one of the era’s most beloved illustrators, created detailed, atmospheric illustrations for fairy tales and folklore. Rackham’s witches are both eerie and enchanting, inhabiting a world where fantasy and fear meet. His work gave witches a distinct look: hunched, cloaked figures with exaggerated features, set against forests and moonlit backdrops.

Rackham’s illustrations are almost dreamlike, yet with an unsettling edge, capturing the duality of witches in folklore. They invite us into a world where shadows have secrets and every tree seems to hold a spell. It’s a look that remains quintessentially “witchy” to this day.

If you want to infuse your home with Halloween all year round, you need to have a Rackham illustration on display!

Halloween Postcards: Playful, Yet Eerie Nostalgia

The early 20th century also saw the emergence of Halloween postcards, which were an absolute treasure trove for witchy imagery. These cards often featured witches, black cats, pumpkins, and cauldrons—all with a playful twist. Unlike today’s more commercial Halloween images, these vintage postcards combined charm with a touch of eeriness, creating a unique aesthetic that was both fun and a little spooky.

The witches on these postcards weren’t all “wicked” but often had a mysterious, mischievous quality to them. In many cards, you’d see witches in traditional garb—pointed hats, brooms, and cloaks—set against harvest moons or swirling autumn leaves. There was something both lighthearted and respectful about these depictions, as though Halloween was a time to embrace the unknown while celebrating the changing seasons.

Imagine receiving a postcard with a smiling, mischievous witch flying across a full moon, her black cat companion peering out from her broomstick, surrounded by vintage orange and black hues. How magickally thrilling would that be?!!

Why Vintage Witchcraft Art Still Captivates Us Today

There’s a reason why vintage witchcraft art remains popular. Each piece, whether a tarot card, an Art Nouveau poster, or a Halloween postcard, connects us to a time when people were fascinated by the mystical and supernatural. They saw the world as alive with unseen forces, where magic wasn’t a fantasy but a part of everyday life.

Perhaps we’re drawn to these pieces because they remind us of a time when the mystical was respected, a time when magic was acknowledged as something real and powerful. There’s a deep sense of nostalgia in these images—an invitation to embrace the mystical and the unknown in our own lives. And for many of us, vintage witchcraft art is more than just decoration; it’s a way to reconnect with these age-old themes of mystery, nature, and magic.

To dive deeper into the enchanting world of vintage witchcraft art, check out some of these resources:

• Symbolist Art in Context by Michelle Facos: A fascinating look into Symbolism and its ties to mysticism.
• The Weiser Concise Guide to Alchemy, Mysticism, and the Tarot: Perfect for those who want to explore the symbolism of vintage tarot and occult imagery.

If you have a favourite vintage witchcraft image or artist, or if any of these themes resonate with you, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a comment below and let’s chat about our shared love for all things mystical and vintage. What artwork or era calls to your inner witch?

~ Tracey