Interpretation about “The Creation of Adam” painting in Madoka
In episode 11 of the anime Madoka`s mother, and the teacher of Madoka`s class are sitting in a bar, drinking. At the front of the bar counter, a massive painting can be seen. This painting is the famous and well known The Creation of Adam, crafted by Michelangelo.
At first sight it might seem that the painting has some connection to the bar scene, and it probably has. In the bar there are two people sitting, and the painting depicts two beings having a contact, so there seems to be some parallel going on. However in this post I am going to argue, that this painting could actually connect to the scene previous of the moment in the bar, to the discussion between Madoka and Kyubey.
Before diving into the contents of the discussion between Madoka and Kyubey, it is good to establish what the painting actually portrays/depicts. These points have been made about the composition of The Creation of Adam:
God’s right arm is outstretched to impart the spark of life from his own finger into that of Adam, whose left arm is extended in a pose mirroring God’s, a reminder that man is created in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:26). Another point is that Adam’s finger and God’s finger are not touching. It gives the impression that God, the giver of life, is reaching out to Adam who has yet to receive it; they are not on “the same level” as would be two humans shaking hands, for instance.
Now that some points of the composition and the meaning behind the artwork are known, one can dive into the talk (or essentially a terrifying info dump) Madoka has with Kyubey. Essentially Kyubey explains that the Incubators have meddled with human affairs since the beginning of pre-historic times.
They have made contracts with different people trough history, fulfilled their wishes and turned them into magical girls. Some of the these individuals have brought revolution, changed or affected history or elevated human society to new stages of development. As Kyubey says, all the tears shed in the past have laid down the foundations of the life Madoka has now. As Madoka looks at Kyubey, the manipulative creature replies with a non changing facial expression, that humanity would probably still be living naked in caves, if the Incubators had not come to Earth.
I think there are a few possible connections between the content Kyubey´s explanation, and the scene the painting in the bar depicts. First off, the painting portrays imparting the spark of life from god`s own finger into Adam. I think one could see this as the Incubators making contracts, and granting the wish of a person who is turned into a magical girl. A supernatural, miraculous event occurs between two beings. Like god who gives life to Adam, to a human, Incubators grant wishes of humans, essentially performing miracles that defys all logic and reason.
Other idea connects to the spark of live as well. One could see that the arrival of the Incubators and them granting the wishes of people, who would later on change history and raise human development, was a “spark of life”. Essentially one can see the Incubators actions as igniting the flame of civilization, resulting to the current life Madoka has. So as the god who in the painting gives life to Adam and to humanity, the Incubators with their actions have partial role in giving birth to human civilization. Without them, they would still be living in caves, if one believes what Kyubey says.
The painting depicts the meeting of two beings: Adam a human and all powerful creator God. In the composition portion it is mentioned, that Adam and god are not on the same level. God is the giver of life, where Adma is the receiver of it. I think one could see this in away, how humanity and the Incubators are not in the same level. While the likes of Kyubey might not be god-like, they certainly are something that goes beyond human comprehension.
The positions giver and receiver could also be another parallel to that of humans and Incubators, where the Incubators are the givers of wishes and magical powers, and humanity is the receiver of them.
This was my interpretation of the painting´s meaning in Madoka. Of course this is just one possible interpretation.
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