Blog Post #4

"The Climax"
by Aubrey Beardsley
1893

Initial Reaction:

When first seeing the illustration I immediately focused on the decapitated head being held. My first thoughts were of Greek mythology and the story of Medusa. I thought it was ironic how in the story of Medusa anyone who looks into her eyes is turned to stone but the figure within the painting is holding the decapitated head directly in front of her face and is glaring into the head almost smugly. The hair on the head also looks very snake-like which is also why I assumed this image had something to do with Medusa who was said to have snakes for hair. I also thought the image might depict someone examining themselves and consciously ridding themselves of the features they do not like. The person depicted in the picture also appears to be flying which gives me the impression that the person might be in some way be associated with gods, or some type of divine nature to possess such a power. I did also note the single the single flower that appears to be coming out of some body of water (based on the way the light is drawn near the stem) but do not exactly have an idea on its importance what it might mean.

Research on the Illustration:

The name of the illustration is called “The Climax”, the image is created within the style of Art Nouveau. The artist, Aubrey Beardsley, was commissioned by the writer Oscar Wilde to illustrate his play “Salome”. The illustration depicts Salmone, the main character of the play, just as she has finished kissing John the Baptist’s decapitated head. The image was intended to highlight the female character Salome’s power over a man, it was symbolic of the changing culture and the new ideas surrounding females and their capabilities. Beardsley was an English Illustrator and one the leading artists in the Aesthetic and Art Nouveau movements.