Salomé 1899

Jean Benner painted "Salomé" with oil on canvas sometime in the 19th century. The biblical figure of Salomé was frequently represented in painting, often in the context of the wider history of European patriarchy, and of the male gaze on a woman. Benner's work contributes to this history, with a beautiful woman holding the head of John the Baptist on a platter. In this sense, the painting comments on the social structures of its own time, reflecting contemporary gender roles and sexual politics. By studying Benner’s life, the history of the French academy, and the critical reception of his work, we can deepen our understanding of the cultural work this painting performs. Art, after all, is contingent on its social and institutional context.