The Expulsion from Paradise, from The Fall and Redemption of Man 1513

Albrecht Altdorfer made this woodcut titled "The Expulsion from Paradise" as part of a series called "The Fall and Redemption of Man." In this stark black-and-white image, we see an angel wielding a sword, driving Adam and Eve from Paradise. The scene reflects the religious and social structures of 16th-century Germany, a time of significant religious upheaval with the rise of the Protestant Reformation. Altdorfer, working in Bavaria, infuses the biblical narrative with a Northern European sensibility. This print wasn't just a work of devotion; it also circulated within a growing market for printed images. Artists like Altdorfer found new patrons outside the traditional church or aristocracy. Woodcuts like these allowed for wider access to religious narratives, reflecting a shift in the consumption and interpretation of religious imagery. To truly understand this artwork, we need to consider not just its aesthetic qualities, but also the religious, economic, and technological contexts in which it was made and consumed.