The Bible recounts a story of a fall. There seems to be woven into human history the rejection of God’s love by people. In the painting the figure is similar to one in a Leonardo drawing of a man in a circle, sometimes called the drawing of Vitruvian man. The painting draws to mind human freewill and the choices made, particularly against God. There is a nocturnal dimension, a darkness about things, a moonlight which is not romantic. The fruit in the left hand corner of the painting symbolises that which Adam ate. The circle has been twisted to represent the pride of mankind attempting to supplant God. Adam’s arms are raised not on a cross but in defiance. In the top right hand corner is a glimpse of Paradise. Monkeys and parrots enjoy God’s creation by being themselves, a picture of Eden and an image of what God wants for us. But even as we distance  ourselves from God, there is a faint shadow of the cross behind the man as God never rejects us. God can absorb the darkness.