Judith II (Salome)

Alternatively, given the name *“Salome”* (named after King Herod's daughter who demanded John the Baptist’s head on a silver platter), Judith II depicts the subject nonchalantly— but, according to critics, satisfactorily— dropping the head of Holofernes. Judith was originally depicted holding his decapitated head in the 1901 painting made by Klimt, *Judith I.* According to the Old Testament, Judith was a widow who was rather vexed with her countrymen for not believing in The Lord to help deliver them from their enemies. Along with her maid, she went to the enemy camps and planned to seduce the general of the Assyrian army, Holofernes. As she gained his trust with her fellow Israelites' promise of information, she alone was invited into his tent one night while he was intoxicated. Judith decapitated Holofernes and rushed out of the camp with his head, to present to the fearful Israelites. The war was won, and the Assyrians fled as they had lost their leader. This painting and *Judith I* were criticized heavily, as Judith was a heroine, and it was largely debated that she should not be presented in an “erotic” manner. Klimt made *Judith II* with no intention of releasing the painting’s name at first, seeing if people would recognize it as the second part of the controversial painting. People wanted it to be identified as Salome, who dances for John The Baptist, as this painting was more interpreted as “impregnated with eroticism.” In later years Klimt confirmed it as *Judith II*, earning more criticism and offending the Jewish and Christian community. In both paintings, it is observed that Judith has her own head “decapitated,” separated from the rest of her body. While this painting features abstract shapes at her neck, signifying the decapitation instead of a huge golden choker pictured in the first one, it is suspected that in the 8-year gap between both paintings being created, Klimt stopped using gold paint as a decorative effect and turned to color instead.