Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith DecapitatingHolofernesPainting based upon a story in the Old Testament, where Judith seduce an enemy soldier(Holofernes) and kills himIn Artemisia’s depiction of Judith decapitating Holofernes, there is definite force: Judith isactively trying to keep Holofernes down (rather than passive as seen in Caravaggio’s work). Shehas no hesitation in what she’s doing. There is a lot more blood.Reversal of gender roles (compared to Susanna and the Elders), females taking the role of men.Maidservant close in age to Judith, “two young, strong women” representationForeshortening: a method of representing an object in a picture in depth, [taking form andswinging it out of the picture at a 180 degree angle] (shows Artemisia’s technical skill, illusionthat viewer is w/in painting)