Illustration til Johannes Ewalds "Adam og Eva" V 1780

J.F. Clemens etched this illustration for Johannes Ewald's "Adam og Eva" showing the expulsion from Paradise. The image is dominated by figures expressing intense emotions, none more potent than the lightning bolts, symbols of divine wrath and the shattering of the harmonious world. We see echoes of Zeus wielding his thunderbolts, a symbol of power and justice, mirrored here in the heavens above Adam and Eve. Note the angel, whose raised arm and open palm aren't merely gestures of banishment. Remember how similar poses appear in ancient depictions of orators, conveying authority and judgment? These motifs recur, resonating with the primal fears and collective memories of transgression and punishment. The composition draws us in, engaging our subconscious understanding of guilt and loss. The recurring use of symbols of divine judgement serve as constant reminders of our own mortality and moral responsibilities.