The artwork “A Witch,” created by Salvator Rosa in 1646, is an oil painting on canvas that forms part of the Baroque art movement. As a genre painting, it is currently housed in the Capitoline Museums in Rome, Italy.
The artwork depicts a scene dominated by a solitary, aged figure, presumably the witch, absorbed in a large open book. Her environment is desolate and dark, illuminated sparingly by an unseen light source, which casts an eerie glow on her and the objects around. The witch appears to be engrossed in her occult study, with various items scattered around her, suggestive of mystical rites. The texture of the artwork is rich and dramatic, employing deep shadows and highlights characteristic of the Baroque period. This somber and evocative composition underscores the mysterious and supernatural theme, typical of Salvator Rosa’s work.
