Judith and Holofernes 1909

Max Beckmann created this ink drawing, Judith and Holofernes, offering his interpretation of the well known biblical narrative. Beckmann, who lived through both World Wars, often infused his art with themes of violence, redemption, and existential angst, reflecting the tumultuous times he lived in. Beckmann’s Judith departs from traditional representations. She is not a righteous hero but a figure of complex moral ambiguity. As a male artist depicting this scene, he engages with the narrative's inherent power dynamics, perhaps exploring themes of male vulnerability and female agency. The dark inks contribute to the drawing's intensity. The story of Judith is retold here not as a religious tale, but as a lens through which we might contemplate the entwined nature of violence and liberation, and the negotiation of power between genders.