Adam and Eve

Unlike the middle ages, the chosen Bible story shows the artist’s interest in the naked body, the revelation of its vitality and power. The biblical symbols have been depicted realistically – the tree of knowledge and the serpent of temptation. In the background the landscape opens on to the legendary Garden of Eden and the animals and birds that live there. The artist’s realistic vision intertwines with distinctly pronounced mannerism that manifests itself in the contorted poses of Adam and Eve, their movements and gestures. The painting’s colouring shows the artist has endeavoured to create a contrasting effect by giving Adam a dark skin tone against Eve’s feminine and marble light figure.