The Fall of Adam

This is the left panel of a diptych. The right panel shows the Lamentation. Perhaps Van der Goes intended to show two important moments in Christianity side by side. On the left the Fall of Man, when mankind appearantly was doomed to suffer and dwell on earth for ever. On the right the Death on the Cross, the moment salvation came within reach.

In the foreground the snake succeeds in letting Eve eat from the forbidden fruit.

Following the style of Van Eyck, Van der Goes paid much attention to detail. Every leaf on the trees in the parklike landscape appears to be painted individually.