Judith, after Goltzius

Art Historical Context

This striking woodcut captures the dramatic biblical tale of Judith, the courageous widow who beheads the tyrannical Assyrian general Holofernes to save her people. The composition emphasizes the moment of triumph, with Judith holding the sword and Holofernes’s severed head, symbols of strength, faith, and moral victory that resonated deeply in 16th- and 17th-century Europe. Created by Christoffel van Sichem I after a design by Hendrick Goltzius, the print showcases the bold lines and expressive contrasts typical of Northern Mannerist woodcuts. Goltzius, a master of engraving and printmaking, influenced many artists with his dynamic figures and dramatic lighting; van Sichem translated these qualities into the relief technique of woodcut, making the powerful image more accessible for wider circulation. Measuring just over five inches tall, this intimate work likely served devotional or educational purposes. Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, it highlights how prints helped spread compelling stories and artistic styles across early modern Europe.