Adam and Eve (Fall of Man)
Hans Baldung Grien
Description
By placing Eve's body in front of Adam's and highlighting it, Baldung emphasized Eve's role in the Fall of Man. Yet the artist showed both reacting to their initial experience of sexuality in a mixed way. The close placement of their bodies suggests mutual desire. However, Eve appears to pull away from Adam, and his hold on her shoulder is slack. Eve wears an expression of repulsion, while Adam seems pensive.
Subject Matter:
This woodcut print depicts a scene from the Book of Genesis in the Bible, Genesis 3:1-7. After Adam and Eve have eaten the forbidden fruit, they are aware of the nakedness and cover themselves with fig leaves. The gestures of the figures suggest the erotic aspects of Adam and Eve's post-fall state of sin.
Physical Description:
This black and white print has a long vertical format showing two nude figures standing in front of a tree trunk. The female is holding an apple in each hand and has her left foot resting on a tablet with the letters HGB. Her face is turned to look at the figure behind her. This figure holds her shoulder with one hand and with the other places a leafy branch in front of her genitalia. On the bottom left corner is a date 1519.
Usage Rights:
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