The artwork, entitled “Illustration to Milton’s Paradise Lost,” was created by William Blake in 1807. Executed in watercolor, this piece belongs to the art movement of Symbolism and falls under the genre of illustration. It is part of Blake’s series “Illustrations to John Milton – Paradise Lost.”
The artwork portrays a powerful and evocative scene from John Milton’s epic poem “Paradise Lost.” Central to the composition is a prominent, muscular figure with arms raised dramatically, emphasizing his dominance and centrality to the narrative. Surrounding this central figure are numerous other figures, each positioned with varying gestures of anguish and despair. The composition is steeped in vivid and dark hues, symbolizing the tumultuous and infernal setting, likely a depiction of Hell and the fallen angels. The emotional intensity, combined with Blake’s meticulous attention to anatomical detail and symbolic elements, evokes profound contemplation of the themes of rebellion, suffering, and divine justice central to Milton’s work.
