Adam and Eve Expelled from Paradise c. 16th century

Editor: This is Hans Holbein the Younger's woodcut, "Adam and Eve Expelled from Paradise." The stark black and white lines and the inclusion of the skeleton create a really harsh atmosphere. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The woodcut process itself is crucial here. Holbein’s choice of this readily reproducible medium allowed for widespread dissemination of his message about sin and mortality. Consider also the labor involved in carving the block. Editor: So, the medium itself contributes to the meaning? Curator: Precisely. The accessibility of prints made these images available to a broad audience, affecting religious and social ideas of the period. It provokes questions around how materials and methods shape meaning. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. Thank you.