The fall: Adam and Eve expelled from Paradise before 1890

Carl Stockmann created this small print of Adam and Eve expelled from paradise. The print shows the biblical figures walking away from Eden, a scene often depicted in Western art to explore themes of sin, punishment, and the loss of innocence. The image creates meaning through familiar visual codes. We can understand the cultural references to the Bible and historical associations with Christian morality. This print was made in a society that was deeply influenced by religious institutions. Such institutions shaped not only spiritual beliefs but also social norms and artistic conventions. Was Stockmann trying to make a conservative or progressive statement? To better understand it, we might consider its artistic and religious context. Resources in theological libraries will explain more about the historical interpretations of the original sin and how this theme played a part in Western culture. Doing so helps us see how art reflects—and shapes—the values of its time.