Judith And Holofernes 2012

Kehinde Wiley made this painting “Judith And Holofernes,” with oil on canvas. Imagine Wiley, in the studio, composing a patterned background of dark florals, carefully rendering each petal, each leaf. Layering this tapestry with a full-length portrait of a woman, staring at us, as she holds the head of a man. I look at this painting and think about Baroque painters like Caravaggio and Artemisia Gentileschi, who created their own versions of this story. Wiley’s really in conversation with them, I think, but adds another perspective. I can only imagine the act of making this painting, like a dance between intention and intuition. The woman’s gaze is so determined, so intense. I think about what Wiley is trying to say about power, gender, and representation. Painting is this amazing process of layering and building, scraping away, and starting over. It's about taking risks, embracing mistakes, and letting the work evolve. I can see Wiley's touch in every brushstroke. And that’s what makes it so compelling.