Expulsion from Paradise c. 1645 - 1740

"Expulsion from Paradise" is an etching by Christoffel van (II) Sichem, dated c. 1645-1740. This small-scale print, measuring 101 mm high and 74 mm wide, depicts the biblical scene of Adam and Eve being expelled from the Garden of Eden after disobeying God. The etching depicts a dramatic moment, as the couple, now naked and ashamed, are driven out of the paradise they once called home by a figure likely representing an angel. The scene is filled with symbolism, including the presence of a serpent, which represents temptation, and the tree of knowledge, a reminder of their transgression. The etching, a work of the Dutch Golden Age, provides a powerful visual representation of the biblical story of expulsion and the consequences of sin.