Oil on canvas, dated circa 1910, signed "A. Rieper" in the lower left corner, with an original label on the reverse: "Aug. Rieper München - No. 729 'Judith'." Condition: minor cracks, losses, old retouching. Painting unframed, dimensions approx. 94 x 126.5 cm
The painting “Judith” depicts a nude young woman with a rosary in her hair, seated on an ottoman against a backdrop of a red curtain and a mountainous landscape featuring a castle. The woman holds a large knife in her right hand, a reference to the biblical figure of Judith, who killed the Assyrian commander Holofernes in the Old Testament. Rieper depicts Judith in a more erotic and sensual manner, which deviates from traditional portrayals of the figure. The artist’s wife may have served as the model, lending the work an additional dimension of intimacy. The painting, executed in the impasto technique with broad brushstrokes, is signed in the lower left corner and dated around 1910.
Interesting Facts
Rieper was not only a renowned artist, but his works were also purchased by figures such as Emperor Wilhelm II and Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which attests to his reputation in the art world.
