Adam and Eve c. 16th century

This image of Adam and Eve was made anonymously, using a printmaking technique. Prints like this are often overlooked as a form of craft, but think for a moment about the process: first, the design had to be engraved into a metal plate, line by painstaking line. The quality of the engraving determined the degree of detail in the final print. The plate would then be inked, and pressed onto paper. Because of this, the image could be reproduced many times. Prints like this circulated widely, bringing imagery into people’s homes that they might otherwise never see. The imagery of Adam and Eve is here made accessible through the relatively democratic medium of print. In considering works like this, it's important to recognize the artistry and labor involved in their production, alongside the social and cultural contexts that shaped their creation and dissemination.