Title-Border with the Story of Salome and St. John the Baptist 1500 - 1557

This woodcut by Lucas Cranach the Elder, created between 1500 and 1557, depicts the biblical story of Salome and St. John the Baptist. The image is divided into three sections, with each section showing a different part of the story. In the top section, Salome is seen dancing for King Herod, while in the bottom section, she is shown presenting St. John's head on a platter. The middle section contains the text of the 23rd Psalm, written by Martin Luther, which is believed to have been a popular and influential text for German Reformation. This woodcut highlights the artist's masterful ability to use detail to depict both the narrative and the emotion of the story. It exemplifies the stylistic trends of Northern Renaissance art through its combination of religious imagery and humanist ideas.