Art and the Occult Through the Ages: Part 1

Practitioners of the occult delve into mystical or spiritual traditions and practices that aim to unveil and harness the hidden secrets of nature in order to become its master. The exploration of secret phenomena, knowledge and practices focuses on esoteric or supernatural beliefs.

Astrology, alchemy, magic, demonology, spiritism and shamanism: interests in the occult and expressive art accompanying the theories, can be dated back thousands of years. This is a huge topic! I have selected some interesting eras and art that represent key themes in the occult.

As Halloween approaches—a time when the veil between the visible and invisible feels thinner—it seemed fitting to revisit how artists have long explored the mysterious, the forbidden, and the unseen.

Astrology and the Zodiac

Believers of the ancient practice claim that a person’s character traits and potential life events are influenced by the positions of celestial bodies such as the stars, planets and our sun. The earliest known depiction of the practice is believed to be in the Lascaux Cave Paintings in France (c.17,000–15,000 BCE). The Zodiac is a band of 12 constellations each with zodiac signs with varying names depending on the culture: Western astrology uses 12 signs based on seasons; Chinese astrology uses a 12-year animal cycle; Mayan astrology uses 13 animal figures; and many Native American traditions also link the zodiacs to animals.

The zodiac man, Gutun Owain,1488 and 1498, National Library of Wales

It’s hard to decipher whether early representations of the Zodiac can be called art. For example, The Zodiac Man, also known as Homo signorum, appeared in drawings and paintings throughout the mediaeval period and expressed ideas about medicine. In the diagrams each part of the body was governed by a sign of the Zodiac.

Following the medieval period, Allegory of Astronomy by Frans Floris (c.1517–1570) is an engraving that shows Astronomy, appearing as a winged goddess alongside a navigator. Astronomy is measuring a celestial globe, marked with signs of the Zodiac.

Allegory of Astronomy (plate VII from the set 'The Seven Liberal Arts'), by Frans Floris (c.1517–1570), credit The Trustees of the British Museum

Another artistic depiction from the same era is God Creating the Sun, the Moon and the Stars in the Firmament (c. 1650) by Flemish artist Jan Brueghel the Younger. This painting represents a time when astrology and the Church coexisted. The painting shows the fourth day of creation when God created the sun, the moon, and the stars with the Zodiac signs arching through the skyline, separating light from dark.

God Creating the Sun, the Moon and the Stars in the Firmament, by Jan Brueghel the Younger, (c. 1650)

 Surrealist artists also often referenced the occult. Salvador Dalí drew parallels between accessing the subconscious through methods via his ‘paranoiac-critical’ method and occult practices which aim to bypass, or redirect the conscious mind. The technique he developed involved creating a self-induced paranoid state to access the subconscious and find irrational connections between objects. This led to his artworks having multiple interpretations, optical illusions, and double images. His series of litho prints Signs of the Zodiacspecifically referenced his interest in the occult and astrology – not just in his methodology but also thematically.

Scorpio, from Signs of the Zodiac, lithograph, Salvador Dalí, 1969

Demonology and Satan

Demons and Satan commonly appear in secular and religious artworks. Although these names are specifically Christian based, there are equivalents in other religions and cultures.

Illuminated Transcript depicting The First Temptation of Christ, c. 1475, The J. Paul Getty Museum

According to Christian beliefs, Lucifer was an angel who rebelled against God and thus fell from grace. Lucifer transformed into Satan as a result of the rebellion and was banished to hell to reign over the kingdom. Imagery of Satan typically depicts the dark lord as grotesque, repulsive and seductive. However, many artists also presented the devil as enigmatic, a free-thinker and a figure who represents the boundaries of divine authority.

Satan in His Original Glory by William Blake, 1805, Image credit Tate

In Islam, Satan is known as Iblis or Shaitan – a key figure who was once considered pious but became evil due to his pride. He is a jinn, a being made of fire, as opposed to a fallen angel. Demonology is the study of demons in religion and folklore. Abrahamic religions such as Christianity and Islam, depict demons or shayatin as fallen angels who rebelled against God and now serve Satan (or Iblis). They can also be descendants of Satan.

Adam and the Angels watched by Iblis, Tabari's Tārīkh al-Rusul wa-l-Mulūk ("Annals of Messengers and Kings"). Produced in Herat and commissioned Shahrukh ben Timur, 1415–16 

The Nightmare (La Pesadilla) is a painting by Henry Fuseli in 1781. Upon being exhibited in London, the artist received critical acclaim for the sheer horror of it. The erotic depiction of a demonic incubus crouches on the chest of a woman undergoing a nightmare created horrified fascination amongst the viewers. Around the same time Francisco de Goya and William Blake were also painting shockingly gruesome, darkly erotic works.

  The Nightmare (La Pesadilla), by Henry Fuseli, 1781

Eastern cultures also had similar interests in depicting devious and evil entities in art. Belief in spirits and demons is deep-rooted in Japanese folklore, entwined with mythology and superstitions. A few notable interpretations on this theme include a woodblock triptych by a Japanese print artist, Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) that is titled Ghosts, Devils and the King of Hell.   

Ghosts, Devils and the King of Hell, Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861)

 Which historical or contemporary takes on these themes intrigue you the most? Share your thoughts below.

Part two will look at witches, oracles, mediums and alchemy.