Michelle Laff in Demonic Witchcraft by Txema Yeste for Numéro France 237 AOC Fashion

Model Michelle Laff is styled by Bernat Buscato in ‘Sortilège’, the fashion story of a ruthless vampire who wrecks destruction in the March 2023 pages of Numéro France 237. / Hair and makeup by Ruben Marmol

Photographer Txema Yeste [IG] captures the tale of a modern day female vampire, generally regarded as Lilith in early Biblical texts.

Among feminists and Medieval folklorists, Lilith is Adam’s first wife, who represents the pre-existing power of the female goddesses and more empowered females.

Hugely influential because of their role in birthing babies in what were originally more egalitarian societies where women had critical roles even as toolmakers, Lilith represents then and now the power struggle between men and women in the period from 10,000 BC to early Greek civilization in 500 BC.

The legend is that Lilith refused to submit to Adam — seeking the more egalitarian, early society relationship where women did most of the same tasks as men — and so she stormed out of Eden. Elsewhere in the legend, Lilith was banished from the Garden for refusing to assume the missionary position beneath Adam.

Returning this short, mind-flexing excursion to Numéro France, AOC was relieved in 2019 to learn that the 13th century statue of Adam, Eve and Lilith had survived the devastating Nortre Dame Cathedral fire.

The half-woman and half-serpent Lilith sculpted between Adam and Eve is located at the Virgin portal of the Notre Dame cathedral, ready to engage in atelling women’s stories when Notre Dame reopens in December 2024.