Artemisia Gentileschi’s Judith and Holofernes (1620–21) is one of the most powerful and visceral depictions of the biblical story, showing the heroine Judith beheading the Assyrian general with an intensity rarely matched in Baroque art. Painted during a period when artists often dramatized religious and moral narratives, Gentileschi’s version stands out for its raw physicality—the blood spurts across the canvas, Judith’s grip is firm, and her maid assists with determination rather than fear. Unlike earlier versions that softened Judith’s role or highlighted her beauty, Gentileschi emphasizes her strength and agency, transforming the scene into a brutal moment of justice and survival. Interpreted by many as a reflection of the artist’s own struggles in a male-dominated world, the work is both a testament to Artemisia’s technical mastery and an assertion of female power in an era that rarely allowed women to claim it.