The Expulsion from the Paradise, from "The Passion of Christ"
Original title: The Expulsion from the Paradise, from "The Passion of Christ", after Dürer
kurzbeschreibung
Marcantonio Raimondi's engraving 'The Expulsion from Paradise' was made between about 1500 and 1534 and belongs to the series 'The Passion of Christ'. It shows an angel driving Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden. The plate exists in three states; this impression is the second.
Description
On the left, a winged angel with a lance pushes Adam and Eve, both naked, forward in urgent motion. Adam looks ahead, Eve turns to the side. Behind them an apple tree recalls Paradise. Carefully drawn lines and hatching give the bodies volume; the monochrome execution matches Renaissance style.
Context
Raimondi, an Italian Renaissance engraver, became known above all for his copies after Albrecht Dürer. The series 'The Passion of Christ' translates Dürer's woodcut series into engraving. Such reproductions were widespread in the early 16th century and helped make Dürer's inventions known in Italy. The exact date of this print is uncertain, but it falls within Raimondi's active years between 1500 and 1534.
Impact
At first glance, the clear, precise linework captivates, giving the figures an almost sculptural physicality. The dynamic poses of Adam and Eve convey the tension of the moment. The lively foreground contrasts with the calm, symmetrical arrangement around the tree.
Technique
For engraving, lines are incised into a metal plate and then printed on paper. Raimondi used fine, parallel hatching to model shadow and volume. The second state of the plate suggests reworking or corrections that are significant for print quality.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)