Schepping van Eva 1643

This engraving by Johann Sadeler I, created around 1600, depicts the creation of Eve. Note the animals surrounding Adam and Eve, symbolizing the harmony of the Garden of Eden. In Renaissance art, animals often carry symbolic weight, reflecting human virtues or vices. Here, the creation of Eve from Adam’s rib is not merely a scene but a representation of divine order. The image reminds us of classical antiquity, where similar scenes of genesis and transformation are found. Consider the myth of Prometheus molding humans from clay—a parallel act of creation. Eve's birth from Adam's side echoes the emotional undercurrent of longing and completion, resonating with our collective yearning for wholeness. The motif of the sleeping figure from which new life emerges recurs throughout history. It resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings, reminding us of the cyclical nature of symbols and their enduring impact on the human psyche.