The artwork “Judith with the Head of Holofernes” is a significant religious painting crafted by the Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens around 1616. This oil on canvas measures 120 x 111 cm and typifies the Baroque art movement with its dramatic use of contrast and intense emotion. The painting currently resides in the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum, located in Braunschweig, Germany.
The artwork captures a dramatic and powerful moment from the biblical narrative of Judith, a theme prevalent in the art and literature of the Baroque period. The composition portrays Judith, a young widow from the city of Bethulia, just after she has decapitated the Assyrian general Holofernes. In the painting, she is accompanied by an older female servant who is often depicted in the story as her accomplice. The visual narrative here emphasizes the act’s aftermath, showing Judith grasping the general’s head by his hair and the servant appearing to assist in handling the head.
In the portrayal, Judith exhibits a composed countenance with a hint of resolve and determination. Her appearance contrasts with the lifelessness of Holofernes’s head, rendered with a realism characteristic of Rubens’ ability to convey the textures of flesh and the weight of human limbs. The use of chiaroscuro—strong contrasts between light and dark—is evident and emphasizes the somber tone of the scene. Furthermore, the rich colors and dynamic brushstrokes give the composition a sense of movement and monumental energy, aligning with the Baroque fascination for dramatic themes and theatrical presentation.
