Ontwerp voor omslag Houtsnijdersnummer van Wendingen 1878 - 1938

Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst designed this cover for the October issue of "Wendingen" in 1919. The design features a reinterpretation of Adam and Eve, the archetypal couple from the Book of Genesis. Here, the figures are framed by a stylized tree of knowledge, with its symbolic fruits. Such imagery is not isolated to this particular piece; it echoes through centuries of art, literature, and human consciousness. The poses and the composition may evoke memories of classical depictions of mythological figures, reflecting a deep-seated, collective memory. Notice the serpent slithering between the figures, now a motif of temptation and forbidden knowledge. The pair embody a sense of introspection and contemplation rather than overt shame or guilt. This depiction, steeped in historical and cultural symbolism, touches upon our shared subconscious, a testament to the enduring power of visual motifs. As symbols shift, adapt, and reappear, they remind us of the cyclical progression of human experience.