Adam and Eve

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The Expulsion of Eden: A Rush of Emotions
Author Jonathan Swift states, “Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others”. Known as the greatest painter of his time, Masaccio, the brilliant artist, produces artwork with purity and language. Through Masaccio’s detailed artwork, The Expulsion of Eden, constructs a painting bursting with emotion that touches the viewer. The story of Adam and Eve depicts two people of opposite gender, and their journey through discovering the root of guilt, and the consequences of knowledge. After Eve (and eventually Adam) eats the attractive forbidden fruit from the tree of life - being tempted by the serpent, Adam and Eve are forever punished from the Garden of Eden, liberating both from innocence. Due to Masaccio's genius paintwork, he portrays the Expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden with precise detail and emotion that matches and, in some parts, enhances the actual Biblical story.
Provided that an essential aspect of the journey of the expedition of Adam and Eve is their quest for judgment, Masaccio scrutinizes Adam and Eve’s facial emotions, correlating their expressions to the story. Although Adam and Eve eat the fruit of knowledge at different moments of time, their eyes simultaneously open, “the eyes of them both were opened. And they knew they were naked. (3)” In the Expulsion of Eden, Masaccio expounds their relationship and emotions after they are expelled from the Garden. When examining Eve, the viewer notices she is covering her body; hiding her nakedness. Her face open to the world, her mouth slightly open, almost illustrating a cry of grief. Adam, however, shelters his eyes, and does not cover his body, his nakedness. Interestingly, both receive dissimilar punis...

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...s face. Masaccio's extrodinary focus on colors adds a new fundamental component to the painting.
Because Masaccio uses artistic license in his painting he escalates the Biblical story. This intensifies the outcome of Adam and Eve eating the fruit from the tree of life in the painting. Before Adam and Eve eat the fruit of knowledge, God advises them not to do so, or the consequence will be severe.The direct point after this is, when they are expelled form the Garden, is when Masaccio stops the story, takes a picture, and frames it. Through subtle colors and biblical references, Masaccio elevates the story of Adam and Eve, which kindles the viewer of The Expulsion of Eden with a feeling of tenderness and compassion. As Adam and Eve’s feet touch the floor, and as the shadows of their past leave them, their destiny, with a true understanding of judgment, await them.

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