Adam and Eve by Albrecht Dürer

engraving of Adam and Eve in front of a dark forest — Adam and Eve, Albrecht Dürer (German, Nuremberg 1471–1528), 1504

Full height photo of a mannequin dressed in elaborate silver colored armor.

Close up of the back of a piece of armor covering the torso of a mannequin. It is richly engraved with symbolic imagery.

What do knights have to do with this print of Adam and Eve? In today’s A Long Look, we’ll find out how German artist Albrecht Dürer pushed the limits of engraving by experimenting with tools used by armorers and goldsmiths. And we’ll discover how his love of Italian art and fascination with the human body led to this work.

Plus, we’ll find out the meaning of that menagerie of animals surrounding these two. You won’t believe who the parrot might represent!

Armor of Emperor Ferdinand I (1503–1564) dated 1549. Created by Kunz Lochner. Purchase, Rogers Fund and George D. Pratt Gift, 1933. All photos courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT)

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas

Episode theme is “Dowland Lachrimae, or Seven Tears” composed by John Dowland. Performed by I Solipsisti, courtesy of musopen.org

Artwork information
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/336222

Albrecht Dürer information
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Albrecht-Durer-German-artist

The Print in the North: The Age of Albrecht Dürer and Lucas van Leyden: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 54, no. 4 (Spring, 1997) (PDF)

Gothic and Renaissance Art in Nuremberg, 1300–1550 (PDF)

One interpretation of the animals (Khan Academy)

Printmaking information
How to Identify Prints / Edition 2 by Bamber Gascoigne

Engraving video (Metropolitan Museum)

Armor images and information
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/23944