The Barbarous Dance (in Front of Salomé and Hérode) (La Danse barbare [devant Salomé et Herode]) from the Saltimbanques series

The Barbarous Dance (in Front of Salomé and Hérode) (La Danse barbare [devant Salomé et Herode]) from the Saltimbanques series is a significant early modern print by Pablo Picasso. Executed in 1905, this drypoint print was later published in 1913. This specific work firmly belongs to the Spanish artist's transitional phase, often referred to as the Rose Period, where he moved away from the somber tones of the Blue Period towards lighter, more theatrical subjects centered on traveling performers and marginalized societal figures.

Unlike many pieces in the Saltimbanques series, which typically focus on acrobats and harlequins, this piece engages with narrative mythology, referencing the biblical tale of Salomé demanding the execution of John the Baptist. Picasso depicts King Hérode and Salomé observing the frantic, namesake The Barbarous Dance. The scene is rendered using the sparse, economical lines characteristic of the drypoint technique, emphasizing the figures' stark, almost skeletal forms. This approach merges the visual isolation associated with circus performers and the dramatic tension of historical drama. Although the work was created in 1905, years before Picasso fully developed Cubism, the composition demonstrates an early interest in formal structure and emotional depth achieved solely through graphic line work.

The drypoint technique involves scratching a needle directly into the copper plate, producing a soft, velvety quality to the line due to the resulting burr. Picasso frequently experimented with printmaking in the early 1900s, valuing its immediacy and ability to reproduce images. Although the original image was conceived in 1905, its final publication occurred eight years later. This print is considered a critical early example among his graphic works. As part of a foundational set of prints that defines his pre-Cubist development, this piece is an important holding in the Museum of Modern Art collection, serving as a key reference point for scholars examining the oeuvre of this major twentieth-century master.