Screen printed patch "Hexenritt" - Witches' Flight.
Catastrophes, epidemics and wars like the Black Death or the Hunderd Years' War challenged the faith of the people living during the late Middle Ages in Europe to such an extent, that the dangerous belief of someone having to be responsible for all these calamities began to take root. Since the Fall of Men (for which a women was seen responsible) women were seen as temptresses and the ones to easily fall under the spell of the Devil. To condemn all women possessing ancient knowledge that wasn't part of the Christian world and make them responsible for everything unpleasant was the most evident explanation for the small minded – how else could these women possess such an amount of knowledge and the power to heal if not with the help of some mighty, non-earthly being – namely the Devil himself? The conclusion seemed perfectly logical for the uneducated (who formed the biggest part of the population in the MA) and the misogynistic clergymen. What the human fantasy made of this idea of women, that made a pact with the Devil, was appalling and appealing at the same time: With the unchristian powers that the Devil gave those “witches”, they were able to fly so they could all easily access the witches' gatherings that were called “Sabbaths” and where these women (occasionally also some men) worshiped the Devil while practicing all sorts of acts that were prohibited and seen as condemnable by the church. Next to broomsticks that were the most popular flying tool, there are also depictions of women riding on a goat to the witches' Sabbath – for goats was seen as the counterpart sheep, that denote christian devotion, as can be read in the Gospel of Matthew. In a non-christian, modern context the witch symbolizes the epitome of the autonomous and self- determined human being that is on the one hand side in ease with nature and her/his physical needs and desires and on the other striving to access spiritual knowledge and insight into transcendental mysteries.
ca. 33 x 18 cm (ideal size for being placed above or under a backpatch). This patch is designed and screen printed by myself in my tiny home studio. Each patch is printed and cut individually by hand. The colours I use are eco friendly water based screen printing inks, the fabric is carefully chosen by myself and sourced from a small local fabric store.
IMPORTANT INFO: After they're sewn on the patches are machine-washable at 40°C. To avoid fraying please make sure to fold and iron the edges of your patch inward prior to sewing it on. Use stitches that go around the edge (like buttonhole stitches) rather than stitching parallel to the edge.
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