Herodias Receiving the Head of Saint John the Baptist n.d.

This drawing of Herodias Receiving the Head of Saint John the Baptist, was made by Peter Paul Rubens in the 17th century. During this period, depictions of biblical scenes were not just religious, they were also deeply entangled with political and social power. Rubens’ work often navigates the complex dynamics of gender and power, and this piece is no exception. The figure of Herodias, who demanded the execution of John the Baptist, is central here. Her power as a woman in a patriarchal society is achieved through manipulation, and her perceived triumph is visually underscored by the brutality of the scene. The gaze of the figures around her, their expressions of horror or complicity, speak to the varied responses to such displays of power. This drawing isn't just a depiction of a biblical event; it's an exploration of the politics of desire, revenge, and the fraught negotiation of gendered roles in the theater of power. It forces us to confront the uncomfortable intersections of personal will and public violence.