Judith Beheading Holofernes
c. 1583-85
Ludovico Carracci captures the ultimate biblical power struggle in this intense sketch from the 1580s. You can almost hear the chaos as Judith raises her sword to finish off the general Holofernes, while her maid struggles to hold the writhing victim down. Unlike the more famous, polished paintings of this scene by Caravaggio or Artemisia Gentileschi, this drawing feels like a frantic, behind-the-scenes look at the action, full of swirling energy and shadow. It's a great example of the early Baroque style, where drama and movement were king.
- Technique
- Pen and brown ink with wash
- Material
- Paper
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