Artwork by Collin Grant
One of the most iconic scenes in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and the movies made of it, is of a naive, disgruntled Edmond meeting the White Witch in the woods with her sleigh. Most depictions show him startled, as here. The witch turns toward him casually, tall, proud, and imperious, about to utter the classic words “But what are you? Are you a great overgrown dwarf that has cut off its beard?” Words that Lewis later forgot she said in The Magician’s Nephew, where he shows how she met human children and well knows what they look like. Maybe all the years spent alone in the company of wolves and dwarves muddled her memory.
The witch looks older than the usual glamour gal depiction and heavier, adding a welcome maturity and power. More like the Evil Stepmother from the Disney movie Cinderella than Maleficent from the Disney Sleeping Beauty (the classic animated ones, not the remakes.) Edmond’s outfit of brown shorts, green wool vest, and knee socks is the classic one for these depictions too.
Artwork by Puppeteer-for-kings
A different version of the meeting. Edmond looks like he’s bowing here and he’s swapped his wool vest for a sweater. The witch doesn’t look too menacing, but that’s part of the stylization.
Artwork by faQy
Edmond looks like he’s in trouble here from this all-hands, grabby witch.
Artwork by Caren Morys
“Here’s your Turkish Delight.” This artist adhered to the book: gold crown and short wand, not a staff as in so many other depictions.
Mara, Dark Mother, by Georgy Demchev
Not the White Witch, but she could be. I like her attitude.
This White Witch, from a stage production, knows how to make a dramatic entrance! You can see her in the background of this pic; here she’s front and center. I love how her character is delineated by three elements: oversized furs, oversized wispy crown, and a white pompadour. Costuming at its finest.
From a children’s stage production — performed by children. This girl has a promising future as an actress.
A Russian-inspired witch who is smiling too cheerfully.
Artwork by Rachel Elese
A sneaky, sneering witch with clawed fingers holding the stone dagger. She has the black hair of the book but Tilda Swinton’s crystal crown.
