Dood van Cleopatra met slang bij een vijgenboom 1524

Barthel Beham created this small, intricate engraving, "Death of Cleopatra with Snake by a Fig Tree," around 1524. The composition, rendered in fine lines, balances starkness with the naturalism of Renaissance art. Cleopatra stands nude beside a fig tree, its sinuous trunk mirroring the curve of the serpent she holds. The snake, rendered with particular attention to its coiled form, acts as a pivotal element that introduces themes of mortality. The choice of engraving as a medium underscores the print's symbolic meaning. The monochrome palette focuses our attention on the contrast between light and shadow, emphasizing the textures and forms of Cleopatra’s body and the surrounding nature. By foregrounding these formal choices, the artwork transcends historical narrative, inviting a profound meditation on beauty and decay.