Alvira’s Alchemy

Alvira is a strong and confident witch who is a believer in feminine power and independence. She and her team of witchy familiars are well-known alchemists who create beverages, elixirs and potions using a mixture of science and magic. They are celebrated widely for their unique flavours and ability to enhance joy and solve troubles with their alchemy. Alvira inspires women all over the world to find their own passions, share them widely, and not let anyone tell them they can’t do what they want to do. 

This painting was inspired by the alewives from medieval times. Read a little about this history below.

Painting Details:

• Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas
• ready to hang
• 650 x 450 mm (25.5 x 17.7 inches)

WOMAN AS BREWERS, TURNED WITCHES:

Up until 1500s, women dominated the beer industry. Beer has been consumed for thousands of years and women brewed beer for religious ceremonies and to make beverages for their home that were rich in calories. Ale and beer were staple parts of people’s homes up until the 1700s and was a common part of a person’s diet. Therefore, a normal household task for a woman. Some of these women took their skills to the marketplace and made a good living from it. Their brew was transported in cauldrons and they had cats with them to chase away the mice and rats who enjoyed the grain. At the marketplace they would wear tall pointy hats so that people would see them and know where to find their beer. Sometimes women would sell beer from their home and if so would hang a broomstick over the front door to indicate that they were selling beer. 

However there were many men threatened by women dominating this industry and as the fundamentalist religious movement started to enforce strict gender norms and condemn witchcraft, male brewers saw an opportunity to reduce their competition. They started accusing female brewers as being witches, who used their cauldrons to brew potions instead of ale. Suddenly the alewives become seen as dangerous beings who had children gather herbs for them while they mixed bubbling brews in a cauldron, creating drinks that would cause men to often ‘lose control’. The rumours took hold and it became dangerous for women to continue brewing.