Schepping van Eva 1570 - 1646

Curator: Right, let's spend some time with Jan Collaert II's engraving, "Schepping van Eva," likely made sometime between 1570 and 1646. It’s currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It feels almost dreamlike, doesn’t it? A tranquil hush amidst this garden scene. And so detailed, considering the medium. Curator: The piece truly exemplifies Baroque line engraving. Look at the meticulous detail Collaert brings to the animals and flora. The way the light falls seems almost calculated. He masterfully uses line to create depth. Editor: Calculated, yes, but somehow still fantastical. See how Eve seems to emerge from Adam’s side, fully formed and instantly pious? It's more a symbolic unfolding, a thought becoming manifest. Even the animals behind seem to turn their heads to witness such holy moment. Curator: Precisely! It depicts the historical painting of the creation of Eva, filtered through a distinctly religious lens. The text inscribed in Latin anchors this reading in scripture, lending to this grand theatre. Editor: Grand and somehow cozy, too. The detail is quite stunning. Did they ever see porcupines in the Garden of Eden? And all under a watchful sun and moon no less? Curator: Possibly the artist never saw a porcupine. But regardless, what impact might the light emanating from behind the floating signifier, seemingly mid-air, be creating in our viewing of the two human figures? Editor: It pushes them to the fore, which is exactly what one needs when depicting the first ever-lasting union. I still find it amusingly naïve. Curator: I disagree on that last point but find myself quite compelled nonetheless by the piece’s density. Let us proceed now. Editor: It does pack quite a punch into one small picture, doesn’t it? A true baroque gem.