Eva 1939

Tinus van Doorn created this striking woodcut, "Eva," depicting a woman in a natural setting. The figure immediately evokes the biblical Eve, standing nude among stylized trees, under what seems to be the moon. This depiction pulls from a long line of images of women and nature. Consider the classical nymphs, often shown bathing, or figures like Venus emerging from water. The pose, with arms raised, can be traced back to ancient gestures of adoration, a signal of divine revelation. We see it echoed in depictions of the Virgin Mary announcing her pregnancy. Here, it may speak to Eve’s moment of understanding, a self-awareness after her transgression. The stark contrast of black and white emphasizes the woman’s form against the wild, overgrown flora, adding to the psychological tension of the scene. The overall impression is one of beauty mingled with a sense of unease, a reflection of our ongoing contemplation of innocence, knowledge, and the natural world.