Expulsion from Paradise 1651

Curator: Before us, we have "Expulsion from Paradise", an engraving by Wenceslaus Hollar, created in 1651, now residing in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My first impression is how claustrophobic yet dynamic it feels. All the figures seem to be rushing away from the center while boxed in by an elaborate frame. The darkness in the etching adds to that unsettling sensation, almost as though doom were inescapable. Curator: The print depicts Adam and Eve being banished from the Garden of Eden. Consider the social and political backdrop of the time. Europe was grappling with the aftermath of the Thirty Years’ War, a period marked by immense upheaval and religious conflict. This imagery of loss and displacement surely resonated deeply. Editor: Absolutely. It's interesting how Hollar frames the central scene not just with architecture, but with personified allegories – note the figure with the scythe. The Latin inscription reminds us of God's words about toil. It powerfully blends the immediate, corporeal drama with larger symbolic contexts concerning labor and the human condition post-Eden. What societal roles are presented? Curator: Well, you have figures such as Adam and Eve but they were still being framed from a very Judeo Christian perspective which we still feel today. This isn't to mention that there are societal issues of forced or unforced labor here too. There's commentary on what role these allegories or even figures of mythology had during and beyond their conception as the audience shifted from the people who built the framework around this system versus the current world. Editor: And it is not like the current audience is entirely devoid of bias too as interpretations will continuously change with any societal shifts as people look through it differently than its inception. Overall, an exploration that reveals how historical turmoil intersects with deeply ingrained anxieties about mortality and the nature of existence. Curator: Precisely! Looking at it this way reveals layers upon layers. It's really fascinating and speaks to the lasting impact of this work and Hollar's abilities as an artist to create it.