Salome met het hoofd van Johannes de Doper 1831 - 1904

Arnoud Schaepkens created this print, Salome with the Head of John the Baptist, using an etching technique. The composition is dominated by the figure of Salome, elegantly dressed, her gaze averted, holding the severed head of John the Baptist. The starkness of the etching emphasizes the contrast between Salome’s composed demeanor and the gruesome object she carries. Notice how Schaepkens uses line and shadow to explore themes of power, desire, and morality. The delicate lines give form to Salome’s refined features and elaborate attire, but they also define the macabre details of the head, highlighting the dramatic tension between beauty and horror. The composition draws on a long art historical tradition, yet destabilizes conventional interpretations through its intimate scale and understated emotional tone. The contrast between the smooth, flowing lines of Salome’s figure and the dense, tangled lines of the severed head creates a visual discord. This disruption serves to challenge any singular interpretation, inviting viewers to confront complex questions about agency, culpability, and the unsettling intersections of beauty and violence.