Man Bitten by a Snake 1992

"Man Bitten by a Snake" (1992) is a striking and unsettling oil painting by the Norwegian artist Odd Nerdrum. This piece depicts three nude male figures standing against a muted landscape. The figures are arranged in a dramatic tableau, with one figure clutching his leg in agony as a snake winds around his ankle, referencing the biblical story of Adam and Eve. Nerdrum's signature style is evident in the meticulous detail, expressive faces, and realistic, even hyper-realistic, rendering of the human form. His work often evokes a sense of unease and psychological tension, challenging traditional notions of beauty and the human condition.