A detailed Renaissance engraving by Girolamo Mocetto depicting the biblical scene of Judith with the head of Holofernes.

This engraving depicts the biblical heroine Judith placing the severed head of the Assyrian general Holofernes into a sack held by her attendant. Girolamo Mocetto, a Venetian painter and printmaker, demonstrates the influence of Andrea Mantegna in this work. The composition relies on precise, parallel hatching to define the volume of the figures and the folds of their garments. Judith stands in a graceful, contrapposto pose, her expression calm as she completes the task. The attendant, positioned slightly behind her, holds the bag open with a look of solemnity.

The background features a sparse, open setting with a solitary tree on the left and a distant fortified town on the right. This arrangement directs the viewer's attention to the central interaction between the two women. The anatomical rendering and the treatment of the drapery reflect the stylistic preoccupations of the late fifteenth-century Venetian school. Mocetto was known for his ability to translate the sculptural quality of contemporary painting into the medium of print.

This print captures a moment of quiet resolution following a violent act. The focus remains on the narrative clarity of the scene rather than the gore of the event. The technical execution of the engraving shows the artist's mastery of line, using varying density to suggest shadow and texture across the fabric and skin. As a piece of Renaissance printmaking, it offers a window into the period's fascination with classical themes and biblical storytelling, rendered with the technical rigour characteristic of the era's print workshops.