Because this photographic magic lantern slide has no caption, it is not clear whether it is an illustration to a particular story, or just a fun stand-alone image. Dating is also difficult, but the witch’s corset and the crude Georges Méliès-style prop suggests a date of about 1900. (For a previous post, illustrated by a coloured magic lantern slide of the Witch of Endor, see here).As you can see, the witch stands at her ease on a crescent moon, while a clown dangles below. He stretches up his hand, imploring her help. She has a smiling face and her right arm raised, as if she is ready to cast a spell. Whether she is about to strike him down or raise him up we won’t know unless the story can be identified.
