Onthoofding van Johannes de Doper 1806

Giuseppe Longhi made this print depicting the beheading of John the Baptist. Here, we see John kneeling, head bowed in prayer, while the executioner raises his sword, embodying the cold, mechanical act of violence. The presence of Salome, holding the platter, introduces a complex motif, echoing in various forms throughout art history. The 'femme fatale' archetype, the dangerous woman who instigates destruction. Think of Judith with the head of Holofernes, or even earlier, the ancient Mesopotamian demon, Lamashtu. These images tap into primal fears and desires, reflecting our anxieties about power, sexuality, and the loss of control. The act of decapitation itself symbolizes a severing—a cutting off from life, from reason, from the very essence of being. This symbol resonates through time, appearing in various guises, each reflecting the cultural anxieties of its age. The horror, the fascination, the warning—they all remain potent, reminding us of the cyclical nature of history and the enduring power of these archetypal images to stir our deepest emotions.