Jael and Sisera 1520 - 1525

Albrecht Altdorfer's "Jael and Sisera" is a 16th-century woodcut depicting a scene from the Book of Judges. The work shows Jael, a woman of the tribe of Kenite, driving a tent peg into the head of Sisera, a Canaanite general, as he sleeps. The detailed and dramatic composition, typical of Altdorfer's style, highlights the gruesome act of violence. The scene is set against a backdrop of trees and a distant walled city, creating a sense of the wilderness and the violence of the biblical story. This artwork is a testament to Altdorfer's ability to capture both the drama and the detail of a biblical narrative.