Salome receiving the head of John the Baptist, surrounded by three men and a child bearing a torch, the Baptist's body lies on the ground, an oval composition 1659

This etching by Hendrick Goudt, created in 1659, depicts the biblical story of Salome receiving the head of John the Baptist. The scene unfolds within an oval composition, with Salome kneeling and accepting the severed head from a figure holding a platter. Three additional figures, including a young boy carrying a torch, surround the central action. The artist's detailed rendering of the figures and their expressions, along with the starkness of the event, create a compelling narrative that has captivated viewers for centuries. This small but powerful print is now part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.