Today, William Blake is recognized as one of England's most influential artists from the Romantic period, which occurred in Europe around the early 1770's and lasted until 1870. Blake's creative and expressive repertoire of art work encompasses not only vivid paintings and drawings, but also engravings, etchings, poetry, stories, and written songs. Some of his most famous works, such as notable poems and stories, are bound within his numerous illuminated books such as The Songs of Innocence, Jerusalem, The Book of Thel, The Songs of Experience, The Songs of Los, The Book of Jobs, The Visions of the Daughters of Albion, and others. Throughout his lifetime, he composed hundreds of written works, all the while creating new works of art intended to accompany his stories and poems.
William Blake was a man of true vision...literally...as well as a strong-willed, intensely spiritual, and passionate person who believed that the value of art could not be appraised. He consistently busied himself with artistic endeavors and verbally engaged in politics on the sidelines, asserting himself as a proud supporter of both the American and French Revolutions as well as in the New Age of Enlightenment. Blake was accompanied throughout his life by his wife, Catherine, for nearly forty-five years up until his death and he continues to serve as an influence and an inspiration for many artists around the world. To get started, here are a few of his illustrations, engravings, and etchings...
