Hey! up the chimney lass! Hey after you!
"Hey! up the the chimney lass! Hey after you!" is an Arthur Rackham illustration taken from a 1907 edition of The Ingoldsby Legends. This illustration features four witches in flowing clothes on brooms with three flying cats headed out of a chimney and into a stormcloud. This illustration features shades of gray and lines to indicate both the flying motion of the cats and witches and precipitation from the stormcloud.This illustration is inspired by the poem "The Witches' Frolic," which features witches flying for amusment.
The Ingoldsby Legends is a collection of poems and short stories inspired by British folklore. The author, Richard Barham, wrote under the pseudonym Thomas Ingoldsby.
The poem "The Witches' Frolic" is a whimsical story involving witches and an unassuming young man named Robin. The peice begins with Robin standing in the rain and awaiting his lover, who, out of fear of the storm, does not arrive. Witches, however, do arrive--and they, like the title indicates, begin to frolic and plan for a night of revelry. One of the witches invites Robin along for the evening, and the title of the illustration comes from this exchange. As Robin takes hold of the broomstick, he says, "Hey! up the chimney lass! Hey after you!"
The illustration features not only the witches, but also the storm which prevents Robin's lover from meeting him. The movement evident in the illustration captures the whimsical and energetic nature of the poem and matches the subject matter.