Schepping van Eva: 'ik geloof in God, de almachtige Vader, Schepper van hemel en aarde' 1579

Editor: Here we have Johann Sadeler’s engraving, "Schepping van Eva: 'ik geloof in God, de almachtige Vader, Schepper van hemel en aarde'," from 1579. The composition, with its incredibly detailed landscape, feels both harmonious and slightly unsettling. What strikes you when you look at this print? Curator: The inscription, which proclaims belief in a patriarchal creator god, jars against a contemporary understanding of gender and power. Consider how Eve is depicted, almost as an afterthought pulled from Adam, reinforcing a secondary role. Does this imagery support or challenge the societal norms of the time? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way. I was focused on the almost idyllic representation of creation, with all the animals living peacefully. Curator: But even this “peaceful” creation story naturalizes hierarchies, placing humans above animals, men above women. And what about the landscapes? Are they idealized projections of European dominance transposed onto biblical narratives? Consider, too, the absence of diverse perspectives. Whose stories are being told and whose are being erased in this creation myth? Editor: So you're suggesting the print isn't just a literal depiction, but also a reinforcement of certain power structures? Curator: Precisely. The power to create, as depicted here, isn't neutral. It's inextricably linked to ideologies about who gets to shape the world, both then and now. The representation and the role assigned to Eva has been historically very impactful in different ways, to this very day. Editor: This really gives me a lot to think about, and makes me view the image in a completely new light. Thank you! Curator: It is crucial that we keep these kinds of conversations going to better understand our own place in this long, and not always fair, tradition.