On the Hildesheim Cathedral Doors are readings of the Old and the New Testaments. Scenes are shown on the Bernward Doors, the left side, containing the story of Adam and Eve from the Old Testament and the right side containing the story of Christ from the New Testament. Although each side tells a different story, when matched up, side by side, they have a lot in common. The left side also tells the story from top to bottom where as the right side tells the story from bottom to top. Even with this difference, the scenes that are side by side still have many similarities and can relate to one another.
I have chosen to look at the Temptation and Fall of Adam and Eve versus Crucifixion. The Temptation and Fall of Adam and Eve shows Eve giving into temptation by listening to the serpent and eating the fruit off the tree. Adam also ate the fruit and from this, Original Sin was brought into the world. Crucifixion shows Christ being crucified on the cross, sacrificing his life to bring salvation to mankind. On the right of him is Christ's mother, the Virgin Mary and on the left is John the Beloved. We also see on one side, a roman guard stabbing Christ in the side with a spear and on the other side, one is offering Christ some vinegar to drink.
When looking at the two scenes and thinking about why they were put together, side by side, it is quite interesting to me. I realized that the Temptation and Fall of Adam and Eve depicts the situation that began sin and eventually led up to Crucifixion where Christ died for the sins of mankind. Both scenes revolve around sin which is why I believe they were put together. One shows the creation of sin and the other shows Christ trying to end sin. WIth just these two scenes, we are given the beginning and the end to a story, which is the story of sin. It could also be said that the Temptation and Fall of Eve and Adam created Crucifixion. The two panels show scenes that give off such opposite feelings. In the Fall of Eve and Adam, one might get a sense of anger because of the mistake that Eve and Adam made by giving in to temptation. With Crucifixion, one might feel grateful or happy to see that Christ was willing to sacrifice his life for mankind. Where as Adam and Eve brought about the evil of sin, Christ was trying to take sin away. There is also the fact that Adam and Eve's story goes from top to bottom, or falls and Christ's story goes from bottom to top, or rises. We already get a negative feeling from the left side as the scenes fall down and we get a more positive feeling from the right side as the scenes rise up. These two compositions are opposite in their meanings and emotions but they are similar in the fact that they both deal with sin.
When looking at the compositions, i noticed that the main object within the scene is in the center. We have the fruit, that is the start of sin, in the middle of the scene on the tree and then we have Christ, trying to end sin, on the cross in the middle as well. The two main objects that affect sin are the center of attention in each composition. They also have a good balance of other objects around them. Christ has two people on either side of him and the fruit has a tree on either side and Adam stands on the right and Eve stands on the left. With having two objects on either side, both of the more important objects stand out in the middle. Even the body language in each composition, draws the eye straight to the middle. Both Adam and Eve are gesturing towards the fruit on the tree. Both of their arms are extended, reaching for the fruit and leading us to focus on what is in the middle. In Crucifixion, the two Roman guards are gesturing straight up to Christ on the cross while the Virgin Mary and John the Beloved also stand facing Christ on the cross. The Virgin Mary holds out her hands towards Christ and through it all, our eyes are drawn to what is in the middle. It also appears to me that Adam, Eve, and the fruit stand out more than the rest of the scene just as Christ does too. They all look as if they are given deep cuts or more detail so that they appear more vivid and alive than the rest of the figures in the two scenes.
Overall, when looking at the two scenes, it is clear that they both revolve around sin. One depicts the beginning of sin and the other depicts an attempt to end sin. After looking over each composition, it can be inferred that they were paired together to show two different scenes depicting sin in two opposite ways.
Both scenes do depict something being done about sin. One is about how sin entered into the world through Adam and Eve's deed. The other is about Christ's sacrifice so that the human race can have the gift of salvation and be forgiven of sin. Both show strong emotion because one shows sadness and the other shame and anger. Adam and Eve felt guilty for what they did and their creator was severely punishing them. When Jesus came things changed. Through him people can be cleansed of their sins if they ask forgiveness and accept him as their savior. Historically in those times people did not ask Jesus to forgive them because they where taught that they had to go through a priest and confess their sins in order to be forgiven. The same holds true now days in the Catholic religion. Protestants believe differently because they are taught that all they need to do is to pray to God and ask him to come into their life.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the crucifixion scene Mary and Jesus appear to have a strong bond as mother and son. In the Bible it does say that before he died Jesus did tell one of his disciples to take care of Mary. That is what could have been portrayed in the scene.
I really enjoyed how you took into account the direction of the stories being told. The fact that by telling the left side of the story could mean that humankind was falling to its lowest low. And then by telling the story up that humankind was not exactly getting better but the situation for humankind was getting better because of Jesus being crucified for our sins.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your information about the Catholic and Prodestant religion, I am not a religious person, however I find religion very interesting. Even though I am not a religious person, I find it interesting that both of these compositions convey strong emotions.
ReplyDeleteWhile looking at the two doors I think that your association with a dark negative feelings with the left door is pretty accurate. The right door however, does give a sense of uplifting hope. Also, as you stated both do deal with a similar topic, which is sin. Also, they both further deal with sin in different ways. One is the consequences associated with sin such as death and the other is sin's price, which is also death that GOD's son paid for us all.
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