The Climax
Print
1893 (drawn), 1907 (printed)
1893 (drawn), 1907 (printed)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Black and white line block print on Japanese vellum depicting the levitating figure of Salome dressed in a white robe and with writhing snake-like curling black hair as she holds the severed head of John the Baptist (Jokanaan) complete with tendril-like hair and dripping blood. These drips form a puddle in the lower right hand section of the design, from which a white lily grows statuesquely. In the top left hand corner of the image is a cluster of circular black and white objects, perhaps referencing the 'clusters of black grapes' to which Salome compares John's hair.
This image was based on the original version of 'The Climax' by the artist, entitled 'J'ai baisé ta bouche Iokanaan', illustration to Oscar Wilde's play 'Salome', published in 'The Studio', Vol. 1, No. 1, 1893.
This image was based on the original version of 'The Climax' by the artist, entitled 'J'ai baisé ta bouche Iokanaan', illustration to Oscar Wilde's play 'Salome', published in 'The Studio', Vol. 1, No. 1, 1893.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | The Climax (assigned by artist) |
Materials and techniques | Line block print |
Brief description | Line block print of an illustration by Aubrey Beardsley, 'The Climax', plate X for Oscar Wilde's 'Salome', 1893. Printed in Germany, 1907. |
Physical description | Black and white line block print on Japanese vellum depicting the levitating figure of Salome dressed in a white robe and with writhing snake-like curling black hair as she holds the severed head of John the Baptist (Jokanaan) complete with tendril-like hair and dripping blood. These drips form a puddle in the lower right hand section of the design, from which a white lily grows statuesquely. In the top left hand corner of the image is a cluster of circular black and white objects, perhaps referencing the 'clusters of black grapes' to which Salome compares John's hair. This image was based on the original version of 'The Climax' by the artist, entitled 'J'ai baisé ta bouche Iokanaan', illustration to Oscar Wilde's play 'Salome', published in 'The Studio', Vol. 1, No. 1, 1893. |
Dimensions |
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Style | |
Object history | Print by Aubrey Beardsley, 'The Climax', plate XV from 'A Portfolio of Aubrey Beardsley's drawings illustrating 'Salome' by Oscar Wilde', published by John Lane, London, 1907 |
Literary reference | Oscar Wilde's Salome |
Bibliographic reference | |
Collection | |
Accession number | C.22146:4 |
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Record created | August 18, 2015 |
Record URL |
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