Finding control

The historical art of Judith and Holofernes and of Salome and John the Baptist are very dear to my heart. It's a historical depiction of women dominating men through art.  The first image, for example, is Judith Slaying Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi, who was not only the first female painter to be a member of Accademia di Arte del Disegno, but one of the first to paint historical and religious art with female heroines.

In a male-dominated society, especially when she was alive (1593-1653), I imagine they felt as if the had to find a place where they could have some control. Some women found it in paint and I am eternally grateful that they did.