Spring or earthly paradise Engraving

Between 1660 and 1664, the late painter Nicolas Poussin painted his Four Seasons, in which he incorporated biblical episodes. These paintings were a great success, and were soon reproduced by Charles Audran, Louis XIV's official engraver.
The depiction of spring is an opportunity for the painter to...

Between 1660 and 1664, the late painter Nicolas Poussin painted his Four Seasons, in which he incorporated biblical episodes. These paintings were a great success, and were soon reproduced by Charles Audran, Louis XIV's official engraver.
The depiction of spring is an opportunity for the painter to depict Adam and Eve in Paradise on Earth. The nude couple, in the center, is enveloped in a luxuriant natural setting, allowing the painter to integrate the notion of rebirth embodied by spring. The engraver's interpretation of the canvas reinforces the idea of an opulent paradise with the presence of animals in the air, on land and in the water.