1908
Paper, graphite pencil, gouache, whitewash, Indian ink
46,5 х 29,9

The image is inspired by the play by English writer, symbolist Oscar Wilde "Salome", which became a cult work of the age of Art Nouveau. Salome, daughter of Herodias, wife of king Herod, is asking, as an award for the dance of seven veils performed by her, for the head of John the Baptist. This theme in the age of Art Nouveau symbolized the confrontation between the pagan and Christian components of European culture. When producing the sketch, Bakst draws on the experience of the play's first illustrator, English graphic artist Aubrey Beardsley (1872–1898), founder of Art Nouveau. Bakst's drawing is notable for its fine laced lines, scrupulous rendering of details, which create a ghostly and spicy image of the Orient. Disembodied exquisite outline of Salome's figure in a cloud of transparent fabrics is created by the artist under the impression of dancing by ballerina Ida Rubinshtein, a participant of S.P.Dyagilev's Russian Seasons abroad, who set up her own non-repertory company. The constume was meant not as a garment, but as Bakst's favourite motif of clothing coming alive, to match the movement of a human figure. This motif harks back to the choreography of the famous Art Nouveau dancer Loie Fuller.