Expulsion from Paradise, from "The Dance of Death"
Original title: Expulsion from Paradise, from "The Dance of Death"
kurzbeschreibung
A woodcut by Hans Holbein the Younger, designed around 1526 and published in 1538, presents the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise. At roughly 6.5 by 5 cm, the sheet stays within the small format that was usual for the prints in this series.
Description
An angel with a spear drives the naked pair out of the garden; both raise their hands defensively. A skeleton crouches on the ground as a sign of mortality, and above it clouds and a turbulent sky. Vigorous lines and hard contrasts govern the layout.
Context
The sheet belongs to Holbein's Dance of Death series, made in the 1520s and first printed in Lyon in 1538. The series links the medieval danse macabre tradition with Reformation thought. The designs are Holbein's; Hans Lützelburger cut the blocks.
Impact
Within a tight space a dense narrative unfolds, binding biblical event and vanitas motif closely together. Clear lines and expressive gestures make the sheet immediately legible and memorable.
Technique
Lines and hatching, cut in wood and printed, still articulate every detail even at this small size. The monochrome print lives on the opposition of black and white, which carries the sheet's tonal values.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)