3. The fruit of knowledge

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Adam and Eve would not eat of the fruit of knowledge. Here Adam is tempted to sin against God's admonition. Eve is holding the forbidden fruit and seems almost to be walking in the spiral that Adam is grasping. The spiral and shell are Hilma's symbol of development and progress. When God accuses them, Eve blames the Serpent, the symbol of evil. Adam blames Eve. No one feels guilty. Knowledge draws people away from the innocence of Eden, but brings them to a realization of right and wrong, and of their own sin. Behind Eve are two swans. In black and white, right and wrong, they are later painted by Hilma. Perhaps inspired by the ballet Swan Lake. The swan is also a symbol of Christ. In the background, rainbow colors.