Salomé. Henner and Moreau Confront the Myth: An Exhibition of Paintings at the Jean-Jacques Henner Museum

In the Bible, Salomé is portrayed as a young girl full of grace and beauty, enchanting men with her dance. Artists see her as a temptress, a symbol of sensual femininity that can lead men astray. By the end of the 19th century, Salomé had become a central figure across a wide array of artworks: paintings, operas, poems, sculptures, stories, plays, and ballets. European artists drew inspiration from this mythic character and depicted her in countless forms. Her image appears in the works of Oscar Wilde, Mallarmé, Flaubert, and Richard Strauss...

For Gustave Moreau, Salome was an obsession that consumed him for over 20 years. In the case of Jean-Jacques Henner, it was a that he explored later in his career. The Jean-Jacques Henner Museum brings these two renowned artists into conversation, showcasing their works side by side in a themed exhibition running from February 18 to June 22, 2026.

Entitled Salomé. Henner and Moreau Confront the Myth, this exhibition brings together a variety of paintings, drawings, sketchbooks and studies that explore the story of Salomé. Visitors can admire around thirty different works, all centered around this common theme. For the first time, the two painters—who were contemporaries—are showcased side by side on the same subject, making their differences even more striking.

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At Moreau, Salomé is portrayed as a true princess, adorned with golden jewelry, luxurious costumes, and flowing veils. She is depicted within elaborate palace settings, surrounded by richly detailed backdrops. Moreau created dozens of paintings and sketches, exploring various iterations of the same scene.

The paintings by Henner are quite a different story — darker and more intense. Salomé wears simple, modern dresses with bold colors. Her gaze is direct and intense, eyes fixed on the viewer with a calculating, somber expression. Her flowing hair frames her face, set against a plain background that highlights her presence. On one side, she appears as a delicate princess; on the other, as a dangerously seductive femme fatale...

Each in their own way, the two painters breathe new life into this iconic figure. These works also serve as reflections of their individual worlds, revealing their perspectives on art, the human form, and femininity.

Centered around this shared theme, the Jean-Jacques Henner Museum offers a fascinating dialogue between two 19th-century painters. The exhibition is set to open in the first half of 2026.