The Expulsion from the Garden 1600 - 1700

This drawing, "The Expulsion from the Garden," currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, presents the biblical narrative through a series of dynamic lines rendered in ink on paper. The composition is immediately striking with its contrast between the dense grouping of figures on the left and the more sparsely populated right side. The artist uses line to create a sense of movement and emotional intensity. Observe how the figures of Adam and Eve are drawn with quick, almost frantic strokes, conveying their distress and urgency. This is juxtaposed against the figure of the angel, whose form seems to emerge from a flurry of lines suggesting divine energy or ethereal presence. The animals scattered across the lower portion add an interesting dimension, their postures ranging from passive to alert, perhaps mirroring the disruption of the natural order. The use of line in this drawing serves not just to depict form, but to express a range of complex emotions, reflecting a departure from the static representations. As such, this work challenges conventional interpretations and offers a dynamic engagement with the themes of transgression and divine judgement.