The Creation of Eve

c. 1526 · Print

Can I see it?

Not on view at present

Where is “The Creation of Eve” now? Collection: National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Not on view at present. Checked September 29, 2026.

National Gallery of Art

Washington, D.C., United States

It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.

Checked: 11 days ago
In this state since: Sep 29, 2026
Source: The museum

On the map Museum page

About the work

Hans Holbein’s Dance of Death series, a collection of 41 prints, begins with this scene of the sixth day of Creation, when, according to Genesis, humankind was made. Here, a menagerie of animals crowd around in awe as God stoops to pull Eve from Adam’s side. From above, the moon, sun, and winds witness the birth. Eve is figured in this print as a fully formed, adult woman, though, much like the tree limbs behind her, she branches off from her partner, suggesting her origin from Adam’s rib. The pair is unaware of their nakedness, a sign of humanity’s then sinless state.

National Gallery of Art

Details

Accession number: 1954.12.72

What it shows

Woman Female nude Male figure Costume Animal

In the catalog

Prints Woodcut Renaissance 16th century German Germany

Display history

Not on view at present
National Gallery of Art · Sep 29, 2026 — now · Verified
Was not on view
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Sep 29, 2026 — Sep 29, 2026 · Verified
Was not on view
National Gallery of Art · Sep 29, 2026 — Sep 29, 2026 · Verified
Was not on view
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Sep 28, 2026 — Sep 29, 2026 · Verified
Was not on view
National Gallery of Art · Sep 28, 2026 — Sep 28, 2026 · Verified
Was not on view
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Sep 27, 2026 — Sep 28, 2026 · Verified
Was not on view
National Gallery of Art · Sep 26, 2026 — Sep 27, 2026 · Verified
Was not on view
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Aug 19, 2026 — Sep 26, 2026 · Verified

Sources

The Cleveland Museum of Art
Image: National Gallery of Art — Museum open access

In the life of Hans Holbein

The whole life

1524
Journey to France
He visited France, probably in search of work at the court of Francis I; there he may have seen the portrait drawings of Jean Clouet, whose technique of drawing in colored chalks he adopted.
1526
Departure for England on Erasmus's Recommendation
On the advice of Erasmus of Rotterdam he set out for England in search of work, visiting France and the Netherlands on the way; Erasmus recommended him to Thomas More.
1526
Received into Thomas More's Humanist Circle
In England he was received by Sir Thomas More, who found him a series of commissions; in the humanist circle Holbein quickly won a high reputation. More wrote to Erasmus: "Your painter is a wonderful artist."
August 1528
Return to Basel, Purchase of a House
He returned to Basel and bought a house in the St. Johanns-Vorstadt, becoming a neighbor of the publisher Hieronymus Froben; in 1531, having grown wealthy from his English commissions, he bought the adjoining house as well.

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