To the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children; Yet your desire will be for your husband, And he will rule over you."
Genesis, 3:16
This story is about two people expelled from Heaven. Eve is leaning over Adam as if she is soothing him. After the hard working day she is giving him her love and tenderness. Adam, having pressed himself close to the ground, is looking at Eve. With his hand he is touching Eve’s breast as if trying to quench his thirst after a hard working day.
They are both surrounded by wheat ears – a symbol of revival and a constant flow of life and fertility.
At the same time the ears remind us of the Holy Writ:
“By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."
Genesis, 3:19