Beheading of Saint John the Baptist c. 1530

Jörg Breu the Elder created this circular drawing, Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, in ink. The composition unfolds as a sequence of actions within a shallow space. The lines, though delicate, define the figures with a certain austerity, typical of the Northern Renaissance. Note how Breu organizes the space to emphasize symbolic meanings. The architectural setting isn't just a backdrop; its arches and lines lead the eye through the narrative, binding foreground and background in a continuous flow of action. In the foreground, the beheading, staged with stark realism, while, in the background, we observe a banquet scene, a symbol of the decadence that led to this grim event. This juxtaposition isn't merely illustrative, it serves to highlight a moral discourse on power, justice, and morality. The act of beheading is not just a physical event, but a pivotal moment in a broader play of moral and ethical judgment.