Who painted The Barbaric Dance (Before Salomé and Herod)?

The Barbaric Dance (Before Salomé and Herod) was painted by Pablo Picasso in 1905.

Where can I see The Barbaric Dance (Before Salomé and Herod)?

The Barbaric Dance (Before Salomé and Herod) is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

Artwork

The Barbaric Dance (Before Salomé and Herod)

Pablo Picasso , 1905

The Barbaric Dance (Before Salomé and Herod) is a print by Pablo Picasso. It dates from 1905 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

This painting shows a wild, crowded scene with dancing figures and a large head in the background.

This painting shows a wild, crowded scene with dancing figures and a large head in the background. The colors are mostly dull greys and browns. The shapes are rough and sharp, almost like broken glass.

Picasso made this in 1905, during a time when he wasn’t using bright colors. He focused more on strange, twisted forms. It feels raw and a little scary, like a nightmare.

Look up Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973) to see more like this.

Overview

Created in 1905 by Pablo Picasso, *The Barbaric Dance (Before Salomé and Herod)* is a print embodying the artist's early experimental style, characterized by somber tones and distorted forms.

Subject & Meaning

The work likely draws inspiration from the biblical narrative of Salomé and Herod, depicting a chaotic dance scene with dynamic, expressive figures set against a prominent background figure.

Technique & Style

Executed during Picasso's somber, pre-Cubist period, the piece features muted grey and brown hues, sharp, angular forms, and a sense of raw intensity.

History & Provenance

*The Barbaric Dance* is part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection, created during a pivotal time in Picasso's career marked by stylistic exploration.

Context

This work reflects Picasso's transitional phase away from brighter colors towards more subdued, emotionally charged palettes and distorted figural representations.