God Creating Man 1665

Georg Andreas Wolfgang the Elder created this engraving of ‘God Creating Man’ sometime between the 17th and 18th centuries, amid the scientific revolution and the rise of Enlightenment ideals. Notice how the image depicts a Europeanized version of Adam, a reflection of the cultural norms of the time. Adam sits passively as God commands him to look towards the heavens. Simultaneously, Adam is surrounded by an abundance of wildlife, suggesting an anthropocentric view where nature is subservient to man. Consider the cultural context of the time. How does this portrayal of creation reinforce or challenge the social hierarchies and power dynamics of 17th-18th century Europe? The engraving invites us to reflect on the enduring legacy of such images in shaping our understanding of identity, nature, and divinity. It underscores the importance of critically examining the stories we tell ourselves about the origins of humanity.