Adam en Eva

Adriaen van der Werff made this drawing of Adam and Eve with pen and brown ink around the late 17th to early 18th century. Van der Werff lived in a Dutch society that, while prosperous, maintained strict Calvinist views on morality, which significantly shaped how biblical narratives were depicted. In this representation, we see the artist’s interpretation of the Genesis story, where Eve is depicted in a posture of reaching for the fruit, while Adam is in the background. It is impossible to overlook the sexualisation and objectification of Eve, who is naked and seemingly idealized, which invites questions about how this imagery perpetuates the male gaze. The drawing prompts us to consider the power dynamics inherent in religious interpretations and their effect on cultural perceptions of women. This piece provides space for reflection on enduring themes of gender, temptation, and moral choice.