The Decapitation

Judith Decapitating Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi

Atermisia Gentileschi’s Judith Decapitating Holofernes is one of most studied and violent paintings. Why? It started when his father, Orazio Gentileschi, who was also a famous painter, chose an apprenticeship with a man who eventually raped Artemisia. Due to this unwanted turn of event, Gentileschi came to develop a personal, dramatic and emotional Baroque art style. Although her works bear similarities to that of Caravaggio, her own father and others working in Italy at that moment, it often stands apart in her vigorous rendering of subjects.

Gentileschi’s painting of Judith Decapitation Holofernes reference a biblical story of the heroine Judith, who rescues her oppressed people by beheading the oppressive Assyrian general Holofernes. 

Judting and Holofernes by Caravaggio

Comparing it to Caravaggio’s version of Judith and the Holofernes, you could pin point a lot of modifications from the facial expressions to the feel of the whole painting itself.  You can see the delicacy of Judith’s behaviour with disgust written all over her face. In this version, Holofernes is caught unaware in a drunken state and wasn’t given even a single chance to struggle for his own life. As for Gentileschi’s, you can clearly see a determined and emotionally committed Judith in carrying out the task. You can perceive Holofernes’ actions; pushing and fighting Judith though overpowered by a virtuous woman.

I could say that I certainly liked Gentileschi’s version of Judith. After learning the back story of why it appears violent gave me feels and salutes to Gentileschi. Although they said the rape incident ended her in disaster and changed her life, it really did but it gave her a huge push where she was after that plus her feelings and experiences being voiced out to everyone. I’m not positively saying that her being raped was a good thing; it’s just that I really think it really made Gentileschi more famous and expressive. By her own versions and renditions to similar subjects, I guess she was able to also give a push to the women out there who are oppressed to fight for how they should be treated properly.