A Deluge of Academic Enthusiasm

tearstheriverscry:

[TW: VIOLENCE, RAPE, ASSAULT, TORTURE]

sylvia-scarlett:

wayward-may-queen:

stfuconservatives:

fishnetsandmalice:

flawlesstrueperfection:

fatmacmcgee:

littlewendycat:

skiesskies:

eyezlikesunflowers:

eumen:

Judith, by Artemesia Gentileschi, a Roman painter in the early 1620s. Gentileschi was raped and actually prosecuted her rapist in court, and the trial went on for like seven months and she was verbally abused and harassed, she underwent a physical exam to prove her virginity, she was physically tortured to see if she was telling the truth, and her rapist was actually found guilty! But he was only sentenced to a few months of exile.
 
Shortly after the trial, the church said she couldn’t paint the Virgin Mary or any other religious depictions because they couldnt have someone who was raped painting things for the church. She then began painting things like this and in every painting she put the face of her rapist as the man being killed.

art

wow if i ever do a misandry mixtape sequel, this is going to be the cover.

OH MY GOD PLS

cathartic 

beautiful

I JUST read about her in my women’s studies textbook this afternoon. Awesome lady.

Quick historical fact-check: this painting is called Judith Slaying Holofernes, and it’s from c. 1611-1612.

But yeah I majored in art history (SUPER USEFUL!) and Artemesia Gentileschi is one of my faves. I need her work on my blog.

It’s been awhile since I had Gentileschi on my blog.

I would love to see a film made about her life; she was such a brilliant and fascinating artist.

Artemesia actual did several version versions of this scene throughout her career and you can see how each one sort of reflects her attitude about her sexuality and how women can use it to empower themselves.

The story of Judith is basically this: Judith was a beautiful, benevolent, loyal queen and so when her kingdom was invaded, she had to do something about it. So, she snuck down to the enemy camp where they were stationed outside the city walls and had a servant keep watch as she slipped into the enemy leader’s tent and seduced him. When he had let his guard down, she cut off his head and took it back to her husband in victory.

It’s kind of fantastic.

(via motherfuckingsassmaster)