Expulsion from Paradise 1665

"Expulsion from Paradise" is a 1665 etching by Dutch Baroque artist Gerard de Lairesse. The artwork, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, depicts the biblical story of Adam and Eve being driven from the Garden of Eden by the angel Michael. Lairesse's use of cross-hatching creates a sense of depth and drama, highlighting the emotional turmoil of the scene. The expressive postures of Adam and Eve, their bodies contorted in despair, and the stark figure of Michael with a flaming sword, make for a powerful visual narrative of human expulsion and divine justice.