Expulsion from Paradise 1652 - 1702

Curator: Editor: We’re looking at "Expulsion from Paradise," an engraving from between 1652 and 1702 by an anonymous artist, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. There's an intense contrast between the lush abundance of the garden and the shame of Adam and Eve as they're cast out. What do you see in this piece? Curator: More than just a literal depiction of a biblical scene, I think it reflects anxieties surrounding knowledge, power, and gender. Note how the engraving foregrounds Eve’s role and the 'serpent's wiles,' subtly placing blame and perpetuating patriarchal narratives about female agency. How does this resonate with early modern anxieties about women challenging societal norms? Editor: I see what you mean. The inscription does place emphasis on the woman's role, but how much can we extrapolate considering we don't even know who created it? Curator: The anonymity itself is revealing. By obscuring the artist, perhaps it suggests the dominance of the theological narrative over individual expression. But what is also fascinating here is the artist's representation of nature—all these different species, coexisting until this moment. Can you see any political reading of nature in the engraving? Editor: Hmm, so it's a fall from a kind of social harmony as much as a spiritual one? And that loss of harmony is because of...knowledge? Or specifically, woman’s knowledge? Curator: Precisely. The "knowledge" acquired disrupts a pre-existing social and natural order. Reflect on the way dominant historical narratives have often positioned women's pursuit of knowledge as disruptive, even dangerous, and then you might start to connect this with much more contemporary debates. What do you think? Editor: I never considered how loaded an image like this could be. It's not just about religion; it reflects historical power dynamics and fears, especially concerning women and knowledge. Thanks for broadening my perspective.