A blank holder device for a drawing device, for example a drawing press. The blank holder device has a blank holder sleeve, which, in a predetermined position exerts a blank holder force on a blank part. The sleeve is fastened to a head part and is stationary relative to it. To move the blank holder sleeve in a stroke direction, the head part is borne, through a head part guiding arrangement, at least at two front guide locations, to undergo translational motion in a stroke direction, and it is braced to be essentially stationary in all directions at right angles to the stroke direction. On the side opposite the blank holder sleeve, the head part is connected with at least one drive element of the blank holder drive device and that can, together with the head part, be moved by a motor and a coupling arrangement in the stroke direction.