Adam and Eve

The influential engraving Adam and Eve was created by German Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer in 1504. This meticulous work is recognized as a technical and conceptual peak of Dürer’s graphic output, demonstrating the artist’s full command over the precise lines and tonal variations achievable through the medium of engraving.

Dürer based his depiction of Adam and Eve on classical ideals of human geometry, attempting to visualize the perfect human form before the Fall. Both figures stand in a balanced contrapposto, positioned against a dense, dark forest background characteristic of the Northern Renaissance style. The scene captures the moment of innocence preceding the temptation, with Eve accepting the apple from the serpent. The figures of Adam and Eve are flanked by complex symbolism, including a mouse and four animals representing the four classical human temperaments (the choleric cat, melancholic elk, sanguine rabbit, and phlegmatic ox), suggesting the inherent presence of human sin and conflict even in paradise.

This iconic print is a crucial piece in the history of graphic arts, synthesized from Dürer’s extensive study of classical proportions and Italian Renaissance art theory. Original impressions of this masterwork by Dürer are held in major institutions worldwide, including the present example in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its age and profound cultural importance, the image has entered the public domain, ensuring its continued study and accessibility for students and enthusiasts of early modern prints.