Artwork
The Creation
The Creation is a print by the Renaissance artist Hans Holbein the Younger. It dates from 1526 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Look up Hans Holbein the Younger (German, active England and Switzerland, 1497/98–1543).
This woodcut shows God bending down to lift Eve from Adam’s side. Eve looks fully grown, not a baby. Trees behind her seem to grow from Adam’s back, like she’s part of him.
Holbein made this image for a series called *Dance of Death*. It shows the moment humans were created. The moon, sun, and winds watch from above.
This print feels different from later Holbein work. Look up Hans Holbein the Younger (German, active England and Switzerland, 1497/98–1543).
Overview
The Creation is a woodcut print by Hans Holbein the Younger, serving as the introductory image to his Dance of Death series.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts the biblical scene of Eve's creation from Adam's rib on the sixth day, as described in Genesis. The figures are surrounded by animals and witnessed by celestial bodies, symbolizing the innocence and sinless state of the first humans.
Technique & Style
The woodcut showcases Holbein's skill in rendering detailed scenes. The image features a unique representation of Eve as a fully formed adult, emerging from Adam's side, with trees behind her suggesting a organic connection to her partner.
Context
This print is the first in a series of 41 images that make up Holbein's Dance of Death, a collection that explores themes of mortality and the transience of human life.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hans Holbein the Younger (UK: HOL-byne, US: HOHL-byne, HAWL-; German: Hans Holbein der Jüngere; c.
