“Adam”
“Adam” is an etching and aquatint print on paper by the German Symbolist artist, Max Klinger, from 1880. This print is plate 5 from Eva und die Zukunft or Eve and the Future series.
In this piece, Klinger depicts Adam and Eve as they leave Eden, expelled. Instead of the usual depiction where the two are both walking away together, Klinger depicts his own interpretation of Adam carrying Eve through a barren landscape. This reinforces the notion of the male as the stronger sex who literally has to bear the burden. In the background, an angel holding a flaming sword blocks the gate to the Garden of Eden to ensure that Adam and Eve do not return.
In 1880, Klinger published a series of etching works known as Eva und die Zukunft or Eve and the Future, Opus III, numbers 1-6. In what is known as a cycle, Klinger created three narrative scenes that together, depict his own interpretation of the great fall of Adam and Eve from the graces of God. The scenes include Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the serpent tempting Eve and Eve discovering her nakedness, and the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden. In Klinger’s version, he focuses on the consequences of Eve’s sin. This series was printed by Wilhelm Felsing.
Between 1879 and 1889, Klinger was mastering the etching technique. He was inspired by the etching style of Francisco Goya, whose influence can be seen in this piece. Klinger’s art in this series has an otherworldly and fantastical element to it.
A copy of “Adam” is currently in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the United States.
For more on Max Klinger, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
