The Original Sin (Adam and Eve) 1611

Bartholomeus Spranger’s 1611 pen and brown ink drawing, titled "The Original Sin (Adam and Eve)", is a powerful depiction of the biblical story of Adam and Eve’s fall from grace. The work shows Adam and Eve entwined with a serpentine figure representing the serpent who tempted them with the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. This study is likely a preparatory sketch for a larger work. Spranger was a renowned Mannerist painter and draftsman, and his works often featured dramatic, twisting figures and a heightened sense of emotion. "The Original Sin (Adam and Eve)" is a masterful example of Spranger's skill in drawing. The work is currently housed in the National Museum in Warsaw, Poland.