La Charmeuse de Serpent Sallambo 1932

A masterpiece of sensuality and exoticism, this 1932 original engraving by French artist Paul Lemagny is titled La Charmeuse de Serpent – Sallambô, and draws inspiration from *Gustave Flaubert’s historical novel Sallambô (1862), set in ancient Carthage. The work captures the haunting allure and theatrical drama of the title character, a priestess entwined in religious fervor and dangerous seduction.

In the center, a nude enchantress—poised, statuesque, and mysterious—stands barefoot on rich drapery, commanding the gaze not just of the coiled python at her feet, but also of the viewer. Behind her, an opulent architectural setting unfurls toward a Mediterranean shoreline, while a seated figure watches in reverent admiration, adding depth and narrative intrigue.

Rendered in meticulous chiaroscuro, Lemagny’s technique—rooted in classical engraving traditions—is here deployed in service of Art Deco elegance and orientalist fantasy. The lavish details of ornamental columns, pottery, and woven textures contrast sharply with the soft modeling of the female form, showcasing Lemagny’s mastery of both composition and symbolism.

Published during the height of interwar fascination with the exotic and the erotic, this engraving is both a celebration of feminine power and an echo of the mythologized Orient as seen through the lens of 1930s French art. A rare and compelling piece, La Charmeuse de Serpent is sought after by collectors of fine engravings, Art Deco works, and literary-themed illustrations.

Une inspiration exotique pour cette magnifique gravure où l'on retrouve tous les éléments du style "Art déco".

Resulting from the artistic movements of the Belle Époque, Art Deco is part of the context of the Roaring Twenties, which try to forget the millions of deaths of the Great War.

An art of paradoxes, it often expresses a certain modernity through geometric and pure forms, but feeds on tradition and remains the luxurious style of an elite.

Art Déco - Amérique du Sud - Brésil

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