Schepping van de mens 1582 - 1613

Pieter van der Borcht I created this print, *Schepping van de mens*, which translates to *The Creation of Man*, at the turn of the 17th century. The print presents an idyllic scene filled with animals and lush vegetation, all under the watchful eye of God. During this time in Northern Europe, there was a move to visualize Biblical stories in a more humanistic way. The creation of Adam is not depicted as a divine act, but as a natural event occurring in an earthly paradise. The inscription on the print emphasizes this by stating that man carries the palm for workmanship, a departure from the divine-centric view of the medieval period. Consider how gender is portrayed here. Adam is the focal point, passively reclining as if birthed by the earth itself, while God's presence is only implied. This subverts the traditional patriarchal narrative by presenting a passive male figure at the moment of creation. The landscape, teeming with life, almost overshadows the human figure, suggesting a world that exists in harmony, yet also hinting at man's place within it. The emotional tone is one of potential and promise. The print reflects a society grappling with its place in the cosmos.