't Leven van Adam en Eva in het paradijs 1765 - 1767

This is 't Leven van Adam en Eva in het paradijs', or the Life of Adam and Eve in Paradise, made by the widow Hendrik van der Putte using a woodcut, a relief printing technique. The stark contrast of the lines, and the texture of the paper, emphasize the labor involved in its creation. Woodcut prints involve carving a design into a block of wood, applying ink to the remaining raised surface, and pressing it onto paper. The quality of line is quite rough, and the coloring very basic – which makes sense, since Hendrik van der Putte was running the printing business on her own after her husband died. The images illustrate scenes from the biblical story of Adam and Eve, but also speak to the broader social context of labor and production. The print depicts the first couple engaging in activities such as farming and carpentry, activities indicative of a society dependent on manual labor. Ultimately, the artwork invites us to reflect on the relationship between labor, creativity, and the transmission of cultural narratives, reminding us of the socio-economic context in which art is produced and consumed.