Artemisia's Judith

Baroque art - at first, I thought it was something similar to cubism where most likely it has pointed shapes.  While discussing it with the class, I was surprised that it is similar to renaissance. The only difference is that baroque has more twist than the renaissance and has more motion to it. I also noticed other differences between the two eras. Baroque art has darker background than renaissance and a perfect example of this is the Judith beheading Holofernes by Caravaggio. It has darker background compare to artworks during the renaissance period. In terms of sculpture, Bernini’s David has more motion to it unlike Michelangelo’s David which is in a contrapposto position. In architecture, details are more sophisticate and intricate than during the renaissance period.  An example of a perfect architecture for this is the St. Peter’s Basilica which started during the renaissance period and was continued up until the baroque period that’s why it has different style on it.  Although there are a lot of differences between the two, I still appreciate the way how art flows within each artwork. If I am to be asked which one is my most favorite artwork during the baroque period, I’d choose “Judith beheading Holofernes” by Artemisia Gentileschi. Why? There are facts there which fascinate me.

First of all, it was painted by a woman. Although there are also other women who paint during the baroque time, her works really attracts me the most.  A woman’s perspective is different from a man like how she portrayed the “Susanna and the Elders”.  “Judith beheading Holofernes” is somehow brutal but still interesting. She was able to deliver a clear thought of a woman despising a man and wanting to finish him. It was painted realistically even the blood which burst out after beheading Holofernes. The positions of the three characters in the painting were in a motion-like state where Artemisia captured the right timing and right angle. Her realistic style of painting inspired me to paint with darker colors. She was able to show the emotion of her work with the use of darker colors for the paint. The painting itself really gives the viewer an impression that will last. Her work really pushed through the boundaries of creativity. It’s a nice reference for young artist learning baroque style with a darker colour. To finish this, her ideas are more impressive than the men’s. Why? Because she put herself in the character’s place like what she did in her “Judith beheading Holofernes”. She imagined what if she was Judith.