Salomé dansant devant le roi Hérode 1930

This refined 1930 aquatint by Jules Pascin, titled Salomé dansant devant le roi Hérode, offers a poetic and dream-like interpretation of the biblical scene of Salome before King Herod. Rather than focusing on dramatic theatrics or literal narration, Pascin renders the composition with fluid lines, soft tonal washes, and an almost ethereal sense of motion. Figures emerge delicately from the pale background, their forms suggested more than fully defined, creating an atmosphere of suggestion, sensuality, and emotional ambiguity. The image feels like a memory or vision rather than a fixed moment, entirely in keeping with Pascin’s highly personal approach to storytelling through art.

Jules Pascin (1885–1930), born Julius Mordecai Pincas, is closely associated with the École de Paris, the vibrant international artistic circle active in early 20th-century Paris. Known for his lyrical drawing style, psychological sensitivity, and often intimate subject matter, Pascin developed a distinct visual language characterized by graceful, fluid lines and a subtle interplay between melancholy and sensuality. His works frequently explore human presence and vulnerability rather than monumental gesture, and this aquatint reflects that sensibility beautifully.

This print, hand-signed by the artist and numbered 79/100, belongs to the final phase of Pascin’s career, produced in the same year as his death. Technically refined yet emotionally understated, it demonstrates his mastery of printmaking and his ability to infuse classical or narrative subjects with a deeply modern, human quality. Today, it stands as an elegant testament to Pascin’s unique place in 20th-century art and the expressive possibilities of aquatint.

Aquatint

Antique

45.5 x 55.7 cm - Numbered 79/100 and hand-signed by the artist

Good condition