Artemisia

In Paris, an extensive exhibition celebrates the rebellious and resilient work of Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653), the trailblazing 17th-century Italian painter, influenced by the Caravaggesque style. Featuring forty works – from iconic masterpieces to rarely seen gems – the show highlights her dramatic, expressive technique and powerful portrayals of women and heroines.

After leaving her hometown, Artemisia quickly developed a unique painting style. Like Caravaggio, she painted directly from live models and without preparatory sketches. This enabled her to capture intense and striking contrasts of light, as in her major works Danaë and David and Goliath.

Her mastery of chiaroscuro and dramatic framing allowed her to capture the psychology of her characters in a unique way (as evidenced by her portraits and the work Judith and her Maidservant in the Uffizi Gallery). Through contrasting colors and raw naturalism, she created powerful and dynamic compositions.

The subversive power of her brushwork sometimes surpasses that of Caravaggio, as evidenced by the bloody realism and dramatic force of the painting Judith Slaying Holofernes. Skilled in the art of portraiture, Artemisia lends her own features to Judith and those of Tassi to Holofernes, as if to ward off the injustice she suffered.