By Jessica Bakar

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This poem is inspired largely by Artemisia Gentileschi’s art, life, and my own experiences.

Artemisia,
you blessed blank 
canvases with the green 
serenity of landscapes, but 
barricaded bedroom doors
by him spoiled 
undried paintings. 

Artemisia, 
I asked you to 
purify me as St. Catherine,
to paint me as
Judith. Judith knows 
of vengeance. Vengeance 
knows the taste of
blood. I know you 
crave metallic affection. 

Artemisia, 
you Temptress. You
Thing. You 
Threat. You 
Woman in Tassi’s 
world, you asked for it
We asked for it 
I ask for it. 

Artemisia, 
when I came to
You, bleary-eyed, 
Teary-eyed, unable 
To speak, you
Said, babe,
This is how feminist
art was invented. 

So I ask you 
to show me the beauty 
of pain. 

Process

This poem is inspired largely by Artemisia Gentileschi’s art, life, and my own experiences. I wrote the first draft of this poem while attending the Kenyon Review Young Writers Residential Workshop.