A few details:
- Linocut print
- Size: 42 x 30 cm
- Paper: 90 g/qm
- April 2023
“The Return of the Witch King” is a monumental linocut by IRRLÆUFER, evoking the feeling of a dark chapter from a forgotten myth. The scene: a bearded, naked king with a crown of thorns—bloated, wild—returns across a battlefield of the dead. In his hand, he holds the legacy of his master – a mystical artifact that splits the sky and heralds new horror.
His return is no salvation – it is reckoning. The Witch King appears as a symbol of an old, vengeful order. What he holds is not hope, but power. A power born of destruction. The fallen bodies at his feet tell of a gruesome massacre, a downfall in which no one remains innocent.
The raw, jagged lines, the stark contrasts, and the near-apocalyptic composition make this piece a visually and emotionally intense experience. “The Return of the Witch King” is not merely a scene – it is a warning, a ritual, a dark awakening.
An image like a blow. Raw, mystical, unforgettable.
As seen in the earlier work “Amathriel”, IRRLÆUFER once again uses a powerful, high-contrast visual language that fuses elements of classical iconography with dark mythology.
