Who painted The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden?

The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden was painted by German 15th Century in 1470.

Where can I see The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden?

The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden?

The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden

German 15th Century , 1470

The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden is a paint print by the Renaissance artist German 15th Century. It dates from 1470 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work is a metalcut print that has been hand‑coloured with green, red lake and yellow pigments.

About this work

Overview

The work is a metalcut print that has been hand‑coloured with green, red lake and yellow pigments. It portrays the biblical episode of the expulsion from the Garden of Eden, arranging the scene in a compact, narrative format typical of early modern prints.

Subject & Meaning

In the foreground, two nude figures cower in terror as a robed figure brandishing a sword stands behind them, suggesting the forceful removal from paradise. A solitary tree and an ornamental archway frame the composition, reinforcing the sense of a lost, enclosed space.

Technique & Style

The artist employs strong, decisive lines to define the figures and architectural elements, while the applied colours enhance the dramatic contrast between the dark outlines and the illuminated flesh and garments. The hand‑coloring adds a vivid, almost theatrical quality to the otherwise stark metalcut.

Context

Created during the Renaissance, the print reflects the period’s interest in biblical narratives rendered with a heightened sense of emotion and anatomical observation. The use of metalcut—a technique more common before the dominance of woodcut and engraving—places the work within a transitional phase of printmaking.

Legacy

Although specific ownership records are scarce, the piece exemplifies how printed images circulated religious stories to a broad audience in the early modern era, contributing to the visual vocabulary of the expulsion theme that would be revisited by later artists.