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Overview
Heinrich Aldegrever was one of the so-called 'Little Masters', a group of German artists making small prints in the generation after Albrecht Dürer, who included Hans Baldung Grien, the Beham brothers and Georg Pencz. The close resemblance of his early work to that of Dürer led to Aldegrever being called the 'Albert of Westphalia', although his style went on to depart from his mentor's intricate line work to stress the optical effects of light and shadow. He became a Lutheran convert in 1531, but continued to depict religious themes, such as The story of Adam and Eve. His ornamental engravings were used as models by artists and craftsmen well into the 17th century, while his images of virtues and vices are well represented in Te Papa's collection.
This engraving is the last of a series of six. Te Papa also owns the first, The creation of Eve 1869-0001-4). Based on Genesis 3:17-19, it depicts a scene after the expulsion from Paradise. Adam, in the foreground at left, pulls up roots, while Eve nurses a child. Both figures are clothed and set in a wild landscape.
In his Notices of engravers and their works... (London,1831), William Young Ottley stated: 'This set is I think one of Aldegrever's most beautiful works'.
See: http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/428295
Dr Mark Stocker, Curator Historical International Art December 2016