Adam and Eve c. 16th century

Curator: Looking at this anonymous engraving of Adam and Eve, I feel an immediate sense of, well, almost claustrophobia. It’s teeming with life, but also with darkness, don't you think? Editor: Absolutely. The setting is quite busy—we see the story of temptation and expulsion unfolding together, highlighting the simultaneous rupture and construction of gendered and racialized hierarchies. Curator: It is a bit like looking into someone’s incredibly detailed, slightly disturbing dream. There's the forbidden fruit, that sneaky serpent, plus a whole landscape of consequences. I wonder who the artist imagined themself to be in relation to this scene? Editor: The anonymity is telling, isn't it? The artist perhaps positions themself as a witness to a foundational narrative, and complicit in its perpetuation. Curator: That's the thing about old stories, isn't it? They shape us whether we want them to or not. Editor: Exactly. Examining the lasting impact of narratives like this can help us unravel some of the complexities of our present. Curator: It’s interesting to think that something made so long ago can still feel so, well, unsettling. Editor: Indeed, it compels us to question the stories we inherit and the futures we build.