Judith with the Head of Holofernes

This engraving depicts the biblical heroine Judith following the assassination of the Assyrian general Holofernes. Set against a backdrop of military tents, the elegantly dressed Judith presents the head to her elderly servant Abra, who holds a large bag open. The print is framed by Dutch moral commentary and Latin titles characterizing the scene as an allegory for the fall of pride.

As part of the 'Emblemata Sacra', this work uses biblical narrative to illustrate the triumph of Divine Wisdom (Goddelicke wijsheyt) over worldly pride and human reason. This interpretation aligns with the moral philosophy of the Haarlem Mannerists, who often blended scriptural themes with Neoplatonic ideas about the soul's victory over the lower appetites.