Judith and Her Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes 1624

Artemisia Gentileschi made this painting, Judith and Her Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes, with oil on canvas. The canvas forms the base for layers of carefully applied pigment. Look closely and you can see how she modeled the figures using a technique known as chiaroscuro, with dramatic contrasts of light and shadow. The texture of the fabric is also rendered with great detail, from the heavy folds of the red curtain to Judith's golden gown. Gentileschi was working within a well-established tradition of history painting, yet she brought a distinctly female perspective to the story of Judith, who bravely decapitated Holofernes to save her people. The gruesome subject matter and raw emotion, vividly captured through the skillful handling of oil paint, challenges the viewer to reconsider traditional notions of heroism and female agency. The artist's mastery of materials and making, combined with the painting's powerful narrative, creates a lasting impact, blurring the lines between fine art and craft.