Gustav Klimt
On this day in 1862 Gustav Klimt, the Austrian Symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement, was born. The painting we present today is characteristic of the golden period of his career. It depicts the Biblical figure Judith holding the head of Holofernes (one of Nebuchadnezzar's generals) after beheading him. The beheading and its aftermath have been commonly portrayed in art since the Renaissance, and Klimt himself would paint a second work depicting the subject in 1909.
In his painting Klimt deliberately ignores any narrative reference whatsoever and concentrates his pictorial rendering solely on Judith, so much so that he cuts off Holofernes' head at the right margin. There is no trace of a bloodied sword as if the heroine would have used a different weapon: an omission that legitimates association with Salome, who demanded the beheading of Saint John the Baptist. The moment preceding the killing (the seduction of the general) seems to coalesce with the conclusive part of the story.
Have a great weekend everyone. :)