Creation of Adam 16th-17th century

Curator: This is Raffaello Schiaminossi's "Creation of Adam," held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Look at the incredible hatching. Editor: It strikes me as so fragile, almost hesitant, a stark contrast to the usual bombast of the Creation scene. Curator: Indeed. The pen and brown ink suggest a printmaker's process. Schiaminossi was known for his engravings, so we see a direct connection to reproductive printmaking. Editor: And it raises questions about the role of the divine. The figures seem almost equals, touching tentatively, rather than a display of power. The social context is the Counter-Reformation, which likely influenced this more subdued approach. Curator: Precisely, stripping away excess to focus on the foundational act. Editor: It is interesting how different vantage points really change how we understand this scene. Curator: I agree.