Leo Impekoven’s drawings for this portfolio of the creation story are some of the most original and imaginative to come from one of Berlin’s most fertile publishing periods. No doubt inspired by von Bayros and Hans Pellar, these highly detailed Jugendstil scenes are worth closer observation, for almost every ornament turns out to be a vulva or a phallus. Thus Eve and Adam walk through an eroticised world from which a fall was unavoidable.

It can also not be unnoticed that Impekoven chose Eve and Adam as the title, rather than the more conventional (and patriarchal) Adam and Eve. Here Eve clearly has the upper hand, and by far the most fun. It is her garden, her zoo, and ultimately her triumph.

The titles of the plates are:

  1   Eva und Adam (Eve and Adam)
  2   Das Strumpfband (The Garter)
  3   Pleureusen (The Feathers)
  4   Der Reifrock (The Hooped Skirt)
  5   Die Maske (The Mask)
  6   Krokus (Crocuses)
  7   Dear alte Herr Eiche (Dear Old Mr Oak)
  8   August der Starke (August The Strong)
  9   Tiefsee (Deep Sea)
10   Der Jungbrunnen (The Fountain of Youth)
11   Der Besuch (The Visit)
12   Vorm Spiegel (Before the Mirror)
13   Priapolis (Priapolis)
14   Harem am Lietzensee (Harem at the Lietzensee)
15   Die Schaukel (The Swing)
16   Hohe Schule (High School)
17   Evas Blumengarten (Eva’s Flower Garden)
18   Evas Tiergarten (Eva’s Zoo)
19   Ringkampf (Wrestling Match)
20   Evas Triumph (Eve’ Triumph)

Eva und Adam was privately published in an edition of 100 numbered copies.

We are very grateful to Hans-Jürgen Döpp for these images; Hans-Jürgen, the compiler of many books on erotic art, curates the Venusberg online gallery and bookshop which you can find here.