The Dance of Salome 

Max Oppenheimer created this etching titled "The Dance of Salome," drawing from the biblical story of Salome, who demanded John the Baptist’s head as a reward for her dance. Oppenheimer, an Austrian Jewish artist, made this image amidst a climate of rising antisemitism and anxieties about female sexuality. Salome, often depicted as an alluring temptress, here embodies a complex mix of power and vulnerability. The etching captures a stark, intimate moment: Salome gazes down at the severed head, her expression unreadable, caught between triumph and remorse. The image can be read as a commentary on the dangers of unchecked power, gender dynamics, and the objectification of women. Oppenheimer invites us to confront the unsettling intersection of desire, violence, and morality, capturing an intense psychological drama in stark monochrome. This Salome is not just a femme fatale but a figure wrestling with the consequences of her actions.