The Eyes of Herod 1894

Aubrey Beardsley crafted this ink drawing, titled 'The Eyes of Herod,' during the late 19th century. The peacock feathers adorning Salome’s headdress are evocative of vanity, luxury, and pride. The peacock, once sacred to Hera in ancient Greece, saw its symbolic significance shift with Christianity, becoming associated with arrogance and the superficial display of wealth. This motif resonates deeply when one considers the Dance of the Seven Veils and the subsequent beheading of John the Baptist, reflecting a potent blend of beauty and moral corruption. The innocent cherubic figures, contrasting with the dark themes, may echo the putti found in Renaissance art. Yet, here they carry not symbols of love, but a candelabra of impending doom. The imagery evokes a sense of unease, tapping into our collective memory of temptation, sacrifice, and the ever-churning cycle of human desire and destruction. The cyclical, non-linear trajectory of these symbols highlights how they can resurface across time, taking on new meanings yet still echoing their primordial roots.