Expulsion from the Garden of Eden

Thomas Cole’s Expulsion from the Garden of Eden (1828) captures the dramatic moment when Adam and Eve are cast out of paradise, symbolizing humanity's fall from divine grace. The painting contrasts Eden’s lush, harmonious beauty on the right with the rugged, chaotic wilderness on the left, representing the consequences of sin. Eden glows with warm, heavenly light, filled with flourishing vegetation and peace, while the wilderness is marked by jagged rocks, volcanic eruptions, and dark, turbulent skies. Adam and Eve, small and vulnerable, walk into this harsh landscape toward an uncertain future. Beams of light from Eden’s doorway illuminate their path, symbolizing the last remnants of divine presence as they leave paradise behind. This powerful scene reflects Cole’s exploration of nature, morality, and the human condition, blending religious allegory with a contemplation of humanity’s relationship with the natural world.