Expulsion from Paradise c. 17th century

Editor: This is Gérard de Lairesse's "Expulsion from Paradise," an etching. It feels theatrical to me, almost staged. What can you tell me about how this image was received and understood in its time? Curator: Well, consider the power structures of the era. Etchings like these weren't just art; they were tools. Prints circulated ideas, morality, and religious doctrine widely. How does that knowledge change your interpretation? Editor: I see, it was a form of mass communication, influencing public perception! I hadn't thought about it that way. Curator: Exactly! And Lairesse's dramatic style likely amplified the church's narrative about sin and punishment to the masses. It's fascinating how art becomes a vehicle for societal control. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. I'll definitely look at art differently from now on.