God vervloekt de slang 1582 - 1613

Pieter van der Borcht created this engraving, titled *God vervloekt de slang* or *God Curses the Serpent*, at the turn of the 17th century. Van der Borcht was working in the midst of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, a period of intense religious and social upheaval, reflected here in the visual interpretation of the fall of humankind. The scene depicts the moment of divine judgment after Adam and Eve have eaten the forbidden fruit. The engraving's composition invites us to reflect on the intertwined themes of sin, punishment, and the promise of redemption. Here, the figures of Adam and Eve become potent symbols in the artist’s narrative of human weakness and divine justice. The serpent, often interpreted as a symbol of temptation and deceit, embodies the disruption of the natural order. The surrounding landscape, populated by animals, highlights the broader implications of Adam and Eve's actions on the entire created world. Consider the ways this work captures not only a biblical narrative, but also the complex negotiations between faith, morality, and human nature that defined Van der Borcht’s time.