“The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Paradise” is an oil on canvas painting by Alexandre Cabanel, created circa 1867. This artwork belongs to the Academicism art movement and measures 94 x 121.9 cm. It is categorized under the genre of religious painting and is currently housed at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, France.
The artwork vividly depicts the biblical story of Adam and Eve being banished from the Garden of Eden. At the center of the composition, the figures of Adam and Eve are shown in a state of despair and sorrow. Eve, portrayed in the foreground, reclines on the ground, her body displaying a sense of vulnerability and remorse. Adam is positioned on the right, hunched over and hiding his face in his arms, illustrating his deep agony. In the background, an angel with a sword, representing divine justice, forcefully drives them out of paradise. The lush and verdant surroundings of the Garden of Eden contrast sharply with the somber mood of the scene, emphasizing the gravity of their expulsion. The play of light and shadow, along with the meticulous details of the figures, exemplifies Cabanel’s mastery in Academic painting.
