Live Auction 7781Old Master Prints
Christie’s roundel
Lot 34

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (1606-1669)

Adam and Eve (B., Holl. 28; Hind 159)

Closed8 December 2009

Price Realised

GBP 32,450

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Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (1606-1669)
Adam and Eve (B., Holl. 28; Hind 159)
etching with drypoint, 1638, without watermark, a fine impression of the second, final state, still printing with the smudge on the bridge of Eve's nose and touches of drypoint on Adam's eyes and chin, the darker areas at right printing particularly well, with narrow margins on three sides, trimmed inside the platemark at the lower right, a pinpoint foxmark on Eve's chest, a short, skilfully repaired paper split beneath Adam's right foot, a further small repaired area at the upper left edge, the lower left sheet corner backed, a few other minor repairs at the sheet edges, generally in good condition, framed
P. 162 x 117 mm., S. 164 x 120 mm.

A. Donnadieu (circa 1791-1861), London (L. 724).

Specialist note

'Eve, with the experienced calculating look of someone who is aware that her prey is at her command holds up the apple with both hands. Adam stretches forth to take the apple while the other arm is raised. This becomes not so much a gesture of horror but one of awareness, and his forefinger is raised as if he were spelling out the consequences to himself, and at the same time warning Eve. He is a man torn between right and wrong and the farouche look and wild hair emphasise the turmoil of his senses versus his conscience.' (Christopher White, Rembrandt as an Etcher, Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 1999, pp.41)