Letter I in een omlijsting met een voorstelling van Adam en Eva omringd door dieren in het paradijs 17th century

This print, by an anonymous artist, portrays Adam and Eve in the earthly paradise, all framed within the letter 'I'. The sun and moon, symbols of cosmic order, preside over the scene, demarcating the passage of time. Within the 'I', Adam reclines as Eve stands by the fateful tree of knowledge, the very locus of humanity’s fall from grace. This act of disobedience, echoed in countless myths, reveals a primal human struggle between innocence and awareness. Consider the serpent, subtly present, a creature that has slithered through diverse cultures, often embodying chaos, temptation, or transformation. From the Egyptian Apophis to the Norse Jörmungandr, serpentine figures recur, representing the cyclical nature of destruction and rebirth. The psychological power here lies in the recognition of our shared human narrative, one of desire, transgression, and eternal longing for a lost Eden. This image acts as a mirror, reflecting our anxieties, desires, and relentless quest for meaning within a world forever changed.