Artwork
Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1504 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:in plate, upper left, on hanging tablet: ALBERT [9 shaped form] / DVRER / NORICVS / FACIEBAT / AD [artist's monogram] 1504; verso, top left, in graphite by a later hand: |42|; verso, top left, in graphite by a later hand: B.1; verso, lower left, in graphite by a later hand: C.12023; verso, lower left, in graphite by a later hand: D [illegible]; verso, lower center, in graphite by a later hand: B1 i[superscript]; verso, lower left, in graphite by a later hand: a. 26/25 / JL[F?]; verso, lower left, in graphite by a later hand: C.5281; verso, lower left, in graphite by a later hand: C.F.R [collector's mark?]; verso, bottom left, in graphite by a later hand: K[I?]N: 12.
About this work
Overview
Adam and Eve is an engraving on laid paper created by Albrecht Dürer in 1504. The print is held at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts a man and woman in a dark forest, their bodies turned towards each other. The woman holds an apple branch, while the man clutches a fig leaf, referencing the biblical story of Adam and Eve.
Technique & Style
Dürer employed fine lines to render skin, fur, and bark, and used cross-hatching to create shadows and shapes without relying on color. The technique showcases his skill in conveying texture and depth through line work alone.
Context
The animals surrounding the figures appear tense, suggesting an awareness of the impending trouble, adding a layer of narrative complexity to the scene.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.
![Madonna and Child [obverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--madonna-and-child-obverse--d7b8ebf05d22ebe5-w320.webp)
![Lot and His Daughters [reverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--lot-and-his-daughters-reverse--b4ebf9b282faa17a-w320.webp)
