Judith 1647

This print, "Judith," was made by Gilles Rousselet, and is currently held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The print compels with its dramatic composition of light and shadow, achieved through delicate and precise engraving techniques. The figure of Judith dominates the foreground, her form a study in classical contrapposto, which is a pose that gives the figure a relaxed S-shape. She gazes out, while the head of Holofernes is held aloft in her right hand. Rousselet masterfully employs line and texture to convey depth and emotion. The background, filled with soldiers, battle and tents, seems almost dreamlike, a space that represents not only a scene of a biblical struggle, but also a complex interplay of power, faith, and resistance. The careful arrangement of light and shadow enhances the dramatic tension, inviting the viewer to reflect on the artwork's rich layers of meaning and interpretation.