Van Eyck’s The Ghent Altarpiece panel with Adam and Eve And Masaccio’s Expulsion of Adam and Eve MASACCIO, Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden, 1425, Fresco JAN VAN EYCK, Ghent Altarpiece, 1432, oil on wood

Medium Jan van Eyck’s Adam and eve was done with great detail. The use of Oil paints allowed Van Eyck to once again show his advancement in detail. You can see every hair on the bodies and both Adam and Eve are extremely realistic. With out the use of Oil paints Massacios Adam and Eve from the Italian Renaissance Show less detail than that of Van Eycks Ghent altarpiece however, both used light to create color tone changes.

Dramatic Pantomime Two distinct emotions are shown between the two pieces. Van Eyck presents his couple with serenity. They symbolize man by being human, sin through the cover up of private areas, and salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The whole point for having Adam and Eve in this serene, reconciliatory tone is to show Gods infinite love for us. Mosaccio is quite the opposite. As hinted in the title with “Expulsion” Adam and eve are shown in despair. Adam has his hands on his face showing shame and Eve’s face shows deep aguish, her mouth shaped to form an imaginary cry of despair. They are leaving of their own free will knowing that they sinned against God and are now ashamed of their actions.

Light Dark shadows are used to show the curves, dimples, and hollows of the body in Van Eyck’s paintings however, the light does not come from one source. Light is just used to highlight the contours of body parts while also helping to set a calm atmosphere. Masaccio uses a sharply slanted outside source of light to create a deep relief that acts as a strong unifying agent.

Perception One of the most astonishing parts of the Ghent altarpiece is the fact that Adam and Eve seem to be protruding from the painting. Adam even sees to be walking out of the piece. Masaccio uses only an empty background that only suggests an open abyss around the exiles. Tieing into the theme of the painting the space around them leads to the fact that Adam and Eve are ashamed they feel as if they have betrayed God and no longer have a place to go. The Ghent altarpiece is the symbol of Gods forgiveness and Adam and Eve seem to feel forgiven and are now moving on with their life.

Van Eyck’s The Ghent Altarpiece panel with Adam and Eve and Masaccio’s Expulsion of Adam and Eve By Avais Alam

Ghent Altar Piece Adam and Eve are used to symbolize the sins of humans that are to be saved by god. Both are near life size. They appear to project out of the depths of their niches into real space. They are realistic and unidealized. Their poses are contrapposto. They contrast starkness to splender of angelic musicians.

Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden Adam and Eve move with structural accuracy. They both have substantial body weight. The hazy atmospheric background suggests a space around and beyond the figures. Adam’s feet, clearly in contact with the ground, mark the human presence on earth. The cry issuing Eve’s mouth voice’s her anguish. Their composition is starkly simple, and message is incomparably eloquent.