Judith with the head of Holofernes before 1851

Johann Peter Krafft created this painting entitled ‘Judith with the head of Holofernes’. It tells the story of Judith, a Jewish widow who saves her people from the Assyrian army by seducing and then beheading their general, Holofernes. At first glance, the image seems to celebrate Judith as a symbol of female empowerment. We see her as a beautiful woman who, through her bravery and cunning, triumphs over a powerful man. However, looking closer, the painting is more complex. Judith is depicted as a beautiful, yet almost cold figure, quite detached from the gruesome act she has just committed. Her beauty and femininity, attributes often associated with passivity, are here weaponized. The presence of her maidservant further complicates the narrative. She is a silent accomplice, her face etched with a mixture of fear and determination. The painting raises questions about the cost of resistance, particularly for women who often bear the physical and emotional scars of violence.