Caravaggio’s David with the Head of Goliath (1604)
We seem to be in more familiar iconographic territory here. Adolescent boy kills man-sized adversary. The sword, however, looks more David-sized than Giant-sized, and we seem to be at a peculiarly uncomfortable graphic moment in the decapitation. The Goliath head, which is the focus of the composition, is looking toward us with disbelief. He doesn’t know that he’s dead yet. The blood is still gushing from the fresh wound.