Witches: from hideous hags to sexy sirens – in pictures

Markéta Luskacová, Woman in a Cat Mask, 2000, from the series On Death and Horses and Other People, 1988-2013 Photograph: Courtesy of the Artist

Engraving by Albrecht Dürer of a witch riding backwards on a goat, with four putti carrying an alchemist's pot, and a thorn apple plant, circa 1500 Photograph: The Trustees of the British Museum

Kiki Smith, from Out of the Woods, Untitled (Encryption) 1:5, 2002 Photograph: Tate Images

Alexander Runciman, The Witches Showing Macbeth the Apparitions from circa 1771-1772 Photograph: National Galleries of Scotland

Frans Francken II, Witches' Sabbath, 1606 Photograph: Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Study for an Engraving by John Faed to illustrate Tam O'Shanter by Robert Burns Photograph: National Galleries of Scotland

John Martin, Macbeth, from circa 1820 Photograph: National Galleries of Scotland

Three Weird Sisters from Macbeth, 1785 by Henry Fuseli Photograph: British Museum

John Runciman's Study of Three Satyrs Heads Photograph: Scottish National Gallery

John William Waterhouse, The Magic Circle, 1886 Photograph: Tate Images

L'Appel de la Nuit by Paul Delvaux, 1938   Photograph: National Galleries of Scotland

The Flying Machine from Edinburgh in One Day, performed by Moggy Mackenzie at the Thistle and Crown, 1762. Attributed to Paul Sandby Photograph: National Galleries of Scotland

William Blake, The Whore of Babylon, 1809 Photograph: The Trustees of the British Museum