1610
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Judith Beheading Holofernes is a 1610 ink by Cornelis Galle I, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a dramatic scene of a woman holding a sword over a man’s neck while another woman watches. The man lies on the ground, his body twisted in pain. Above them, four winged figures hover, some holding weapons or looking down with serious faces. The woman with the sword wears flowing robes, and the whole scene feels tense and urgent. The artist used fine lines and shading to create deep shadows and strong contrasts. This makes the figures look almost three-dimensional. The print looks like it was made by pressing ink into carved metal. Look up engraving to see how artists like this create detailed prints.
Cornelis Galle the Elder (1576 – 29 March 1650), a younger son of Philip Galle, was born at Antwerp in 1576, and was taught engraving by his father.
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