Brawlin' Broads: Judith Beheading Holofernes

Caravaggio
Caravaggio, Judith Beheading Holofernes, 1599-1602
Brawlin' Broads
By Bhux
Countless artists have depicted the beheading of Holofernes since the original recounting of the story. Caravaggio's rendition has attained acclaim for centuries and inspired countless artists. He chooses to take the unique perspective of depicting the event at its dramatic climax, while other artists of the day chose a more passive, somber approach. A popular topic of the time, Judith Beheading Holofernes is a classic story of the bible. Judith saves her people by seducing the Assyrian general Holofernes. Holofernes rests vulnerably in bed, power damped by nudity and intoxication. Judith severs his head to put in her sack and force his people to retreat. Judith became known as a symbol of triumph over tyranny for her dramatic role in the bible. Her purity and calamity contrasts with the savagery and pain of Holofernes as Caravaggio divides the work in half. Caravaggio allows the viewer to watch this violent act unfold, unable to intervene and haunted by Holoferne's inhuman screams and contorted face frozen in time.

Caravaggio's masterfully depicts human emotion through his beautiful use of color, depth, and shadow. He shows Judith's ambivalence towards the gruesome act. The viewer feels her repulsion, but also her desperation and willingness to sacrifice for her people. Caravaggio perfectly paints these contrasting emotions within Judith's face. Her body language and facial expressions show her unwavering determination but also reservations about the beheading. Her servant stoically holds her bag open in anticipation to aid her master. The firm, emotionless figures of the right sharply differ from the man in excruciating pain on the left. His eyes show not only surprise, but shock of the unexpected betrayal of Judith. He has no time to think or react consciously; his face contorts to express his despair and hopelessness until his death.
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Judith Beheading Holofernes

Caravaggio
Caravaggio, Judith Beheading Holofernes, 1599
By NATALIE BEYER

Although Judith appears to be afraid and uncertain in this rendition of Holofernes' beheading, Judith is a strong, independent, and charming woman, as is portrayed in the Book of Judith.  Judith, as a whole, embodies the power of the people in Israel and sneaks her way into the tent of Holofernes, a commanding general. She and her maid dress to catch the eye of all passing men, with the intention of getting caught by the Assyrian Border Patrol. Once captured, she makes up a credible story that she is a direct descendant to God, and slyly promises to lead Holofernes and his army through Jerusalem without fatalities. After waiting three days with the full trust from Assyrian army, Judith makes her way into Holofernes tent. All alone with him, she makes him drunk and steals his sword. With his own sword, Judith beheads Holofernes and takes down the enemy of Israel with her stunningly good looks. 

Caravaggio portrays this beheading in a way like no other artist has ever attempted. The blood-red drapes sprawled in the background, the old maid holding the bag for Holofernes' head, and the blood spouting from Holofernes' neck captures the exact moment in which Judith took down the most crucial general in the Assyrian army. Judith's face as she beheads Holofernes looks almost as if she is saying "that looks like it is going to leave a mark" as she drags Holofernes' sword through his thick neck. The black darkness surrounding all light parts of the painting leaves the viewer curious for what is in the tent. Caravaggio, like most of his paintings, illuminates only the essentials in his masterpieces, and in this painting, the viewers eyes are drawn right to the pain in Holofernes' face and Judith bright white dress. 
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Revenge and Judith and Holofernes

Caravaggio
Caravaggio Judith and Holofernes 1598-1599

Since the story of Judith and Holofernes is more widely known, I will start with the plot line of Revenge. This show involves a complex revenge scheme that a broken-hearted Emily Thorne has thought up. With the help of her "true love," Aidan, and her best friend, Nolan the three of them plan to destroy the family that framed her father for a terrorist act on the country and killed him while he was in prison when Emily was a young girl. Obviously this family is extremely powerful and the highest of the high in social standings, so Emily climbs the ladder by taking a new identity and a new boyfriend, the eldest son of the family, Daniel. This is a difficult pill for her real man to swallow, watching his girl all over the enemy, so much so that he falls for Emily's trick and right into her trap by proposing to her. What better way to burn a family to the ground than form the inside out?

Judith is seeking revenge of her own after hearing about the attacks planned on her family's village. She, like Emily Thorne, uses her beauty to seduce the enemy and get Holofernes right where she wants him: to drunk to function. Once in this state she and her maid take the fine opportunity to go ahead and take his head for the road, which leaves his plans to destroy her village foiled, obviously.

Clearly, these women are bad ass and not to be messed with, especially in terms of their family. I guess its the perfect example of blood running thicker than water despite what family you marry into and no matter how dirty the deed. I love how powerful they are, kicking butt and taking names. In Emily's case,  she literally takes her enemy's name when she marries into the family. My only hope for them is that it is worth it. I see the reward in Judith taking her revenge before the event takes place; but for Emily, doing these things and destroying this family won't bring her dad back. I guess I'll just have to keep watching Revenge and see.


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