'Judith with the Head of Holofernes' by Lucas Cranach the Elder (c.1530)

The story of Judith and Holofernes comes from the Book of Judith, where a Jewish widow named Judith saves her besieged city by outsmarting the Assyrian general Holofernes. After watching her people face starvation under his military blockade, Judith devises a plan: she dresses in her finest clothes, enters the enemy camp, and gains Holofernes’ trust with charm, confidence, and strategic flattery. Once he becomes drunk at a private banquet and collapses, she seizes his own sword and beheads him, carrying the head back to her people as proof of his downfall. The Assyrian army panics when they learn their leader is dead, and Judith’s bold act turns the tide of the conflict.

Art is subjective, but we’re all about mixing art history with modern themes. This painting is generally regarded by art historians to represent female empowerment. The contrast between her beauty and her violence is a reminder not to judge someone's capability by looks alone.