Paradise I
Paradise I
Paradise I
By Herman Justus Kruyder
Paradise I
Paradise I
Paradise I
A naked and timid Adam and Eve stand among gigantic trees surrounded by a group of deer. They seem insignificant among the trees. The painting is dark in colour, the only light being reflected by a tree in the centre. This actually makes the tree the midpoint: Adam and Eve are hardly noticeable. Herman Kruyder, who lived in Haarlem, painted many outdoor studies in the woods and dunes. Paradise I is situated in the Groenendaal wood near Heemstede, though it is barely recognisable: the Dutch wood is transformed into a kind of Brazilian rain forest with giant trees. Paradise was a recurring theme for Kruyder. In 1917 he painted Paradise II, which was lighter, more colourful and more modern.