Judith with the Head of Holofernes

Art Historical Context

This engraving captures the dramatic biblical tale of Judith and Hfernes, a story of courage and deliverance drawn from the Book of Judith. The Jewish, having entered the enemy camp, beheads the Assyrian general Holofernes with his own sword, saving her people from invasion. Balthazar van den Bos’s composition focuses on this pivotal moment, emphasizing the contrast between Judith’s resolve and the lifeless head she holds aloft, a powerful symbol of triumph over tyranny that resonated across centuries of European art. As an engraving, the work belongs to a printmaking tradition that allowed s...