THE MAGIC CIRCLE John William Waterhouse (1849-1917)

The painting depicts a lone woman in a turquoise dress, performing a ritual outdoors. She stands barefoot in a sandy or dusty area, holding a staff in her left hand and a small vessel in her right. A large cauldron, set over a crackling fire, bubbles with a luminous green liquid, from which thick white smoke billows upwards. Black crows are scattered around the scene, some perched on the cauldrons edge, others on the ground, and one in flight. The background shows a rugged, rocky landscape with some rudimentary structures, suggesting an ancient or remote setting. The sky is dark and ominous.
The subtexts of the painting are steeped in themes of witchcraft, mysticism, and the occult. The title, The Magic Circle, directly refers to a protective circle often used in ritualistic magic. The womans attire, her stance, and the presence of the cauldron and fire all point to her being a sorceress or witch. The crows are often associated with magic, prophecy, and the underworld in folklore. The overall atmosphere is one of mystery, power, and possibly danger. The solitary nature of the scene and the dark, dramatic lighting enhance this sense of enclosed, secret activity. It evokes a feeling of ancient power being invoked, a confrontation with the unknown, or a moment of intense magical concentration.