NOTES
The biblical figures of Adam and Eve are the focus of this engraving. In this work, Albrecht Dürer proved his hard-won mastery of the human form based on classical canons—or standard measurements—of proportion. At this point in his career, Dürer was searching for rational mathematical principles that could be used to produce the ideal human figure.
This engraving was also a triumph of the burin, the tool used to engrave the metal plate. Dürer’s use of fine lines and short flicks is exceptionally subtle here. The resulting image is rich in painterly effects, such as the silvery play of shadow over Adam’s legs and chest. Dürer also mastered the surface textures of the animals’ coats, which can almost be felt as the eye passes over them.
