“Judith with the Head of Holofernes,” an oil on wood painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder, was created around 1530 in Germany. The artwork, part of the Northern Renaissance art movement, measures 87 by 56 cm and is categorized as a religious painting. It is currently housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria.
The artwork depicts the biblical figure Judith holding the severed head of Holofernes, whom she has just slain. Judith stands poised and calm, dressed in rich, elaborate attire indicative of the period’s fashion, with a large and striking hat crowning her head. Her expression is serene and composed, contrasting starkly with the brutal nature of her act. She clutches Holofernes’ head by his hair in one hand and holds a large sword in the other, symbolizing her role as both a savior and executioner. The attention to detail in her costume, the finesse of the textures in the fabric, and the use of light highlight Cranach’s mastery in creating a striking visual narrative. The background is dark and nondescript, focusing the viewer’s attention entirely on the dramatic scene before them.
