Judit en Holofernes genieten van een feestmaal

This is Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert’s engraving, showing Judith and Holofernes enjoying a feast. Made in the Netherlands, this print shows the cultural and religious context of the 16th century. It depicts a biblical scene but does so in a style that reflects the social values of the time. Judith is seen here not just as a heroine, but as a figure within a complex social drama. The print invites us to consider how biblical stories were reinterpreted through the lens of contemporary society, reflecting the era’s moral and ethical concerns. To fully appreciate this work, it’s important to look at archival materials, religious texts, and other visual representations of the story of Judith. Through this kind of research we can understand the cultural and institutional forces that shaped the creation and reception of this work.