Adam en Eva in het paradijs, omringd door uiteenlopende voorstellingen 1784

Johann David Schleuen created "Adam and Eve in Paradise, Surrounded by Various Depictions" at an unknown date using etching. The composition is striking because it combines the sacred with anatomical and ethnographic observation. Divided into nine distinct compartments, we see Adam and Eve at the centre, surrounded by scenes of human anatomy, foreign people, and industrial activity, each rendered with precise linework. The contrast between the idyllic, centrally-placed Garden of Eden and the other panels is quite pronounced. The depiction of the human body as a structured system, the potters wheel and the foreign people all highlight a structured view of the world that is categorized and scientifically observed. Schleuen invites us to consider how enlightenment ideals like reason, observation, and classification are deeply connected to theological and philosophical concerns. The clear lines and the compartmentalized composition create a semiotic system where each panel serves as a sign, contributing to a broader understanding of humanity's place within the universe, reflecting a period of intense intellectual curiosity.