There is no specific, identifiable subject intended. Taken together, this setting and the symbols it contains convey a mishmash of different cultures, ideas, and traditions. The eponymous magic circle is a physical and spiritual divide between two states of being. Ravens and frogs, symbols of evil, are clustered outside the circle while the woman stands inside surrounded by flowers. The painting captures her in the act of drawing a circle around herself in the ground. She stands over a boiling cauldron that billows steam. The woman seems to be in the middle of some sort of ritual. The background is vague and hazy, but it seems to represent some sort of arid climate.
She holds a crescent-shaped sickle in her hand, which links her to the moon and Hecate, according to my research. The central figure is a woman in a long blue dress decorated with a warrior motif. The Magic Circle, however, represents one of Waterhouse’s earliest forays into portraying witchcraft. He was particularly fascinated by the mythological figure, Circe, a witch who plays a prominent role in Homer’s Odyssey. Over and over again, Waterhouse painted women engaged in acts of prophecy or enchantment. Pre-Raphaelite painter John William Waterhouse returned to the idea of magic many times throughout his career. As the month of October continues, I want to share another piece of art that captures the supernatural spirit of the Halloween season.
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