Expulsion from Paradise 1581 - 1656

Nicolaes de Bruyn’s engraving depicts the expulsion from Paradise. Adam and Eve are driven from Eden, a scene dominated by potent symbols laden with historical and cultural weight. An angel, brandishing a sword, enforces their exile beneath the Tree of Knowledge, while a serpent slithers at their feet. Consider the serpent, a motif that winds through the annals of art history. From ancient Mesopotamian depictions to its later Christian interpretations, the serpent embodies temptation, deception, and the primal instincts lurking beneath the surface. The serpent's guise shifts, yet its essence persists. The psychological weight of this scene is palpable. The shame, the loss, the dawn of mortality – these emotions resonate through the ages. The pose of Adam and Eve can be found in other works of art throughout history, a collective memory echoing through time. This expulsion, a symbol of mankind’s fall from grace, continues to haunt our cultural psyche, resurfacing in art, literature, and our deepest fears.