Who painted Herodias: Page 55, Cul-de-lampe?

Herodias: Page 55, Cul-de-lampe was painted by William Walcot in 1928.

Where can I see Herodias: Page 55, Cul-de-lampe?

Herodias: Page 55, Cul-de-lampe is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

Artwork

Herodias: Page 55, Cul-de-lampe

William Walcot , 1928

Herodias: Page 55, Cul-de-lampe is a print by William Walcot. It dates from 1928 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Herodias: Page 55, Cul‑de‑lampe is a print executed by William Walcot in 1928. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. It presents a reclining female figure rendered with swift, gestural lines, set against a background of turbulent, swirling marks that suggest motion.

Subject & Meaning

The title references the biblical Herodias, yet the image does not depict a narrative scene. Instead, the figure appears as a study of posture and expression, her head turned slightly, hair rendered in tangled strokes, inviting contemplation of the tension between stillness and the implied dynamism of the surrounding marks.

Technique & Style

Walcot employs a loose, sketch‑like approach, using rapid, tangled lines for the hair and a draped cloth that follows the body's contours. The background consists of chaotic, swirling marks that function as visual shorthand for wind or movement, creating a sense of restless energy that contrasts with the figure’s calm pose.

History & Provenance

Created in the late 1920s, the print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains accessible to the public. Its inclusion in the museum’s collection highlights Walcot’s exploration of line and form during a period when printmaking was a vehicle for experimental drawing techniques.