The Fall of Man, from The Fall and Salvation of Mankind Through the Life and Passion of Christ 1508 - 1518

Curator: This engraving is entitled “The Fall of Man, from The Fall and Salvation of Mankind Through the Life and Passion of Christ” created between 1508 and 1518 by Albrecht Altdorfer. Editor: Oh, wow. Talk about intense. It feels so...confined, almost claustrophobic. All those lines, and they both look a little bit unsure, don't you think? Curator: It’s a Northern Renaissance piece. Consider the theological framework, then – ideas about sin, transgression, and inherent human flaws within a patriarchal system. This scene is a cornerstone of those discussions. Editor: Definitely sets a mood! Though that sneaky snake with his skull-like head…kinda theatrical, isn’t it? And the way Adam has his arm sort of protectively…or maybe guiltily…around Eve. It's like he already knows! Curator: Altdorfer here depicts the quintessential power imbalance and the objectification of women prevalent during this period, as personified by Eve and then echoed throughout centuries of patriarchal representation. What choices did she truly have? Editor: See, to me, even though I get all that weight, I can't help but see a spark of... defiance in her eyes? Maybe it’s just me being hopelessly romantic! Plus, the detail, for such a small print, it’s kinda bonkers. Look at Adam’s curls! Curator: Absolutely. And to fully grapple with it, let's bring it to now: are these original sins only sins because those in power deem them so? Does this challenge any fundamental notions of right or wrong? Editor: Whoa, heavy questions! Thinking about this scene in the Met through THAT lens...shifts everything. The more you look the more complex it gets. Thanks! Curator: Precisely. The enduring questions remain: who holds power, and whose stories do we tell? The dialogue continues.