This work takes elements from the work “Judith II, “Salomé”, by Gustav Klimt (completed 1909).

120/160 cm. Oil on canvas. Transponder. 2019.

This item links to painting 416, “Blue swan, letter from Leonardo to Judith”.

HISTORY
Judith (Hebrew Jewess), a character from the Old Testament, is a respected, pious, wealthy, beautiful widow. Not long ago, the Jewish community has returned from exile when it is now threatened with a renewed desecration of its sanctuary – Jerusalem – by the Assyrians. The Jewish community, terrified, passively hopes for God’s help. In this hopeless situation, Judith herself becomes active and sneaks into the enemy camp. There she presents herself as a traitor to the army commander Holofernes and thus gains his trust. The general is very taken with her. After the banquet, she carries out her plan, cuts off his head in the night and saves her people from annihilation by the forces of the Assyrian ruler Nebuchadnezzar.

IMAGE ELEMENTS
Before the heroine could perform her saving deed, however, she had to be released from her comfort zone. The swan (God?) comes to her rescue, snapping the cord that breaks the golden frame that holds Salome (Judith) captive. Only now can she join her people and carry out her plan. The swan symbol of eternal love and the embodiment of perfect beauty. Radiantly beautiful, full of elegance and faithful throughout life, marked by true purity of heart meets the essence of the courageous woman.