Artist:

Edgar Tolson, born Lee City, KY 1904-died Campton, KY 1984  Search this

Medium:

carved and painted wood

Dimensions:

14 3/4 x 12 1/4 x 8 in. (37.5 x 31.1 x 20.3 cm.)

Type:

Sculpture

Folk Art

Date:

1974

Luce Center Label:

Edgar Tolson created around a hundred carvings that show Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He believed that this event, along with the crucifixion of Christ, was one of the most important in history because it symbolized human weakness. (Michael D. Hall, "You Make It with Your Mind," The Clarion, 1987) In this piece, Tolson left the wood bare to symbolize the innocence of the first couple, but painted the snake black to highlight the devil's wickedness.

Luce Object Quote:

"God made the first Adam and Eve and I made the second. But I lack a long shot of being God." Edgar Tolson, quoted in Michael D. Hall, "You Make It with Your Mind," The Clarion, 1987

Topic:

Animal\reptile\snake  Search this

State of being\evil\temptation  Search this

Landscape\tree\apple tree  Search this

Religion\Old Testament\Eve  Search this

Religion\Old Testament\Adam  Search this

Credit Line:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson

Object number:

1986.65.272

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department:

Painting and Sculpture

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk757aaa2b2-1700-43b0-8de5-b061a39b6332

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:saam_1986.65.272