Salome en Herodias ontvangen het hoofd van Johannes de Doper uit handen van de beul 1763 - 1811

Quirin Mark made this print, titled "Salome and Herodias Receive the Head of John the Baptist from the Executioner," sometime between 1753 and 1811. The severed head, presented on a platter, evokes an immediate sense of horror and fascination. The motif of the severed head carries a potent, timeless significance. We find it echoed in the myth of Medusa, whose gaze turned men to stone, and in countless other tales of sacrifice and triumph. It's a symbol of power, of warning, and of the brutal consequences of desire. Observe how Salome averts her gaze, yet her stance betrays a morbid curiosity. This mirrors humanity’s complex relationship with violence; a simultaneous repulsion and captivation. The scene taps into our collective subconscious, reminding us of the darker aspects of human nature and the enduring power of symbolic representation. The symbol of the severed head progresses cyclically through history, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings.