Engraved copies of The Little Passion 1485 - 1699

Here we see an engraved copy of "The Little Passion", created by Albrecht Durer in the early 16th century. The composition is densely packed, with figures of Adam and Eve surrounded by a dark, ominous forest. The texture is rich, achieved through fine, detailed lines that define forms and create shadow. The focal point is the moment of temptation, with Eve receiving the apple from Adam, offered by the serpent coiled around a tree. Durer uses a structured approach here to explore the theme of original sin. The characters are placed within a semiotic landscape – the forest, with its lurking creatures, functions as a signifier of danger and the loss of innocence. Through his calculated use of line and form, Durer invites us to consider not just the biblical narrative, but its broader implications for human nature and moral understanding, challenging viewers to reflect on the nature of choice and its consequences.