Judit met het hoofd van Holofernes 1635 - 1694

Dirck de Bray created this woodcut print, "Judith with the Head of Holofernes", in the Netherlands, during the second half of the 17th century. Here, Judith, a biblical heroine, is depicted with the severed head of Holofernes, an Assyrian general she assassinated to save her city from his siege. This scene was particularly compelling in the 17th century Netherlands, a period marked by religious and political conflict, where the story of Judith resonated with the Dutch struggle for independence from Spanish rule. Consider how the choice to represent Judith was not merely a retelling of a biblical story, but also a reflection of contemporary gender roles and expectations. Judith, who embodies courage and defiance, transcends traditional stereotypes of women as passive. Her actions challenge patriarchal norms and expectations. In this way the print offers a space to reflect on the power dynamics inherent in representations of women, then, and even now.