For Closer Look: Dürer’s Adam and Eve: As we noted at the end of the last chapter, in discussing Dürer’s Self-Portrait of 1500 (see Figure 16.18), creating art was, for Dürer, a sacred act. How does this print reflect that attitude?

What will be an ideal response?

Adam and Eve can be read metaphorically through Dürer’s use of light and dark as a study of inspiration and melancholy. Given that Dürer suffered from depression (melancholia; see Figure 17.9), this work of art is also a representation of action brought about by divine inspiration. Inspiration can be considered divine because, like Adam with whom Dürer is identified (through the Latin placard), the artist is awakened with spiritual knowledge.