The Hand of a Woman; The Baroque Perspective

 

Judith Beheading Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi. Oil on Canvas. 1620. Rome/Naples.

            Judith Beheading Holofernes is the second version of a painting by Artemisia Gentileschi. The dark background sets the tone that highlights women taking their own power back from a man. The tone is a dark background to make the graphic murder the sole talking point. The contrast between the dark background and bright red blood help to symbolize a victory of sorts for the women. Judith Beheads Holofernes is a female curated painting that shows women working together to fight for Christianity. The bright red blood trickles down the white sheets before it fades away into the dark abyss of the background. The negative space (the dark background) helps to highlight the biblical story behind Judith. Uffizi Gallery states, “‘The Lord has struck him down by the hand of a woman’. So says Judith, a young Jew from Bethulia” (2022). Judith was a woman empowered by Christianity. This biblical image serves as a visage for Christian story telling.

This is a powerful painting that I could not pass the opportunity to discuss. Dr Esperanca Camara stipulates, “Rivulets of blood run down the white sheets, as Judith, a pious young widow from the Jewish city of Bethulia, beheads Holofernes, general of the Assyrian army that had besieged her city” (2015). Judith, despite being a woman was defending herself against the aggressor in this story. The dark tone of the painting is created by the painter, as she constructed the visceral image of women claiming their power through religion. Judith uses a large cross to behead Holofernes while the maid holds him down. The Christian symbolism was like several works of Artemisia, where she depicted biblical scenes and figures.

This biblical art relates to the Council of Trent. The Council of Trent shaped the Baroque Art Period to depict biblical matters as they are written. This suggests that biblical art cannot be paired with the Old Gods and must depict the written word. Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank remarks the council of Trent influence as such, “Most people at this time were illiterate, so the educational role of images was of paramount importance for teaching the Catholic faithful – a significant role” (2021). The statement that individuals were illiterate was due to minimal access to education, which stresses the significance of art during the baroque period. The Council of Trent taking charge of biblical images sets the stage of how critical biblical art was to influencing Christian ideologies. Art is its own language that helpsdifferent people speak universally. The abrasiveness of the cross-beheading Holofernes represents the desire to expand and colonize Christian ideas beyond Europe.

            Artemisia Gentileschi was a unique artist during the Baroque period, as a woman she was an outlier creating myriad art pieces. Angelica Frey writes, “[Judith Beheads Holofernes] has been interpreted by historians to convey the artist’s female rage, both as a rape victim and as a woman in a male-dominated field” (2019). Artemisia was a rape survivor who was using a medium to tell her story through biblical verses, as a testament to her personal strength. We can see this strength in Judith as she thrusts a cross through a man’s neck and entirely passes through all the blood and guts. The brute strength needed to perform such a maneuver would be the rage Artemisia identifies in herself, and in Judith. Judith, although dressed like a lady of her time, is an outlier, as she fights against men hat challenge her ideologies and town’s safety. This painting feels personal as we look at the brutality of the blood trail and how gore is depicted by the female hand (through a brush stroke, and through Judith’s weapon).

            In conclusion, Artemisia Gentileschi was a bold artist who followed The Council of Trent doctrine through her art mediums. Artemisia used art to express herself and her biblical interpretations. Dr. Esperanca Camara stated, “One of the cameos on Judith’s bracelet appears to depict Artemis, the ancient goddess of both chastity and the hunt” (2015). The plausible connection to the Greek goddess, Artemis, implies a strong connection to women who challenge men for harming then. Women acting against men during this time is unique, as it was not revered to speak above the men they were expected to serve. I would not personally own this piece of art, but I can appreciate the strength and life that crafted into it. I typically do not have Christian images in my home as I am pagan myself. The contrast behind Judith Beheads Holofernes inspired me to choose this piece of art for my analysis.

 

References

 

Dr. Esperança Camara, "Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Slaying Holofernes," in Smarthistory, July 19, 2015, accessed October 13, 2022, https://smarthistory.org/gentileschi-judith-slaying-holofernes/.

 

Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank, "The Council of Trent and the call to reform art," in Smarthistory, May 20, 2021, accessed October 13, 2022, https://smarthistory.org/the-council-of-trent-and-the-call-to-reform-art/.

 

Frey, Angelica. “How Judith Beheading Holofernes Became an Art Historical Icon of Female Rage.” Artsy, 4 Apr. 2019, https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-judith-beheading-holofernes-art-historys-favorite-icon-female-rage.

 

Uffizi. “Judith Beheading Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi: Artworks: Uffizi Galleries.” By Artemisia Gentileschi | Artworks | Uffizi Galleries, 2022, https://www.uffizi.it/en/artworks/judith-beheading-holofernes.