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The image shows a pastoral scene with various figures engaging in activities. One man is using a spade to dig into the earth, while another figure tends to a child next to a cow. Two other figures are resting under the shade of a large tree. In the background, a small hut is visible among trees on slightly elevated land. Distant mountains are seen on the horizon. The engraving technique uses fine lines and a monochrome palette ranging from light to dark shades. The grayscale tones create a serene and harmonious effect.
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The image shows a pastoral scene with various figures engaging in activities. One man is using a spade to dig into the earth, while another figure tends to a child next to a cow. Two other figures are resting under the shade of a large tree. In the background, a small hut is visible among trees on slightly elevated land. Distant mountains are seen on the horizon. The engraving technique uses fine lines and a monochrome palette ranging from light to dark shades. The grayscale tones create a serene and harmonious effect.

National Gallery of Art · Print

Adam and Eve Working

Jan Pietersz Saenredam after Abraham Bloemaert

Date
1604
Medium
engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 27.7 x 19.8 cm (10 7/8 x 7 13/16 in.) sheet: 29.7 x 22 cm (11 11/16 x 8 11/16 in.)
Classification
Print
Accession number
1994.50.5
Credit line
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Time span
1601 to 1650
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Portfolio and series

Series
History of the First Parents of Man: pl. 5

Subjects and terms

  • Dutch
  • Adam and Eve
  • Old Testament
  • religious
  • engraving
Provenance

Private collection (indistinct armorial mark); Jan Baptist de Graaf, Amsterdam [1742-1804] (Lugt 1120); Heinrich Schwarz, Vienna (Lugt 1372); (sale, Sotheby's, New York, 12 May 1994, lot 172); (David Tunick, New York); purchased by NGA, 1994.

Inscription

lower left in plate: A. Bloemaert in. / J. Saenredam sculp. 5; four line Latin text across bottom in plate: Horrida ... fuso.; by later hand, lower center verso in graphite: DTTC

Watermarks

divided shield with bend (Briquet 1075)

NGA object ID 90149. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.