Cranach's Eden
If you trace the here & the now back to the then,
you'll arrive at the prototype egg:
EDEN.
In essence this place contains an explanation
of all you enjoy & suffer:
Creation, Birth,
Temptation, Sin,
Damnation & Death.
To Cranach it's a green & odd spot, blanketed
in a muted happiness.
He's retired - obviously - into his private scene,
raised the drawbridge, bolted
the portcullis
& fixed it for personal use
with naked - a dozen - figures
(crimsoncloaked, in triplicate, compassionate God;
white stallion; fiery archangel; colourful
birds & beasts; green lake and bundle of rocks)
& has lost himself – where is he? – in its greenery
for an eternity.
Note
The loss of paradise surely was due to the sin of disobedience vaguely illustrated by the artist.
But Cranach – except for the detail in the top-left corner - has managed to shut out the sense of disaster to be expected in Eden.
There is in fact so much peace, colour, simplicity & compassion in the picture one has the impression that the artist, having taken personal possession of the place, has disappeared into it & intends to remain there.