← William Blake

Songs of Innocence and of Experience, Shewing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul: Combined Title-page

Original title: Songs of Innocence and of Experience, Shewing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul: Combined Title-page

Artist

William Blake

Date

[1789–94] printed ca. 1825

Medium

Relief etching printed in orange-brown ink and hand-colored with watercolor and shell gold

Dimensions

Plate: 4 7/16 × 2 13/16 in. (11.2 × 7.1 cm) Sheet: 6 3/16 x 5 9/16 in. (15.7 x 14.1 cm)

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1917

kurzbeschreibung

William Blake's combined title page for 'Songs of Innocence and of Experience' (1789–94, printed around 1825) is a relief etching in orange-brown, hand-colored with watercolor and shell gold. The title appears in ornamental lettering; below it, two figures embrace, embodying the contrary states of the human soul.

Description

The title stands in large, curving letters of gold on a blue ground with wavy lines and color gradients. A text band below reads 'Shewing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul' in gold on an orange field. At the lower edge, two figures appear in an intimate, familiar pose; their garments blend in color with the background. Red, orange, and yellow tones dominate the lively, contrasting palette. Stylized leaves and vines form a border around the whole.

Context

Between 1789 and 1794, Blake created 'Songs of Innocence and of Experience' using his experimental printing technique that united text and image on a single copper plate. The combined title page was made for a later edition around 1825, when Blake revised his works for collectors. The two figures point to the book's core theme: innocence and experience as opposing poles of human existence. Blake's relief etching was unusual at the time, as it allowed him to print text and image simultaneously.

Impact

Gold and orange tones give the sheet an almost illuminated, gem-like radiance that emphasizes the spiritual dimension of the work. The ornamental border and flowing lines create a dynamic, almost musical composition that draws the viewer into Blake's symbolic world.

Technique

In relief etching, the non-printing areas were etched away, leaving lines and letters raised. Printing was done in orange-brown; afterwards, the impressions were hand-colored with watercolor and shell gold. The plate measures 11.2 × 7.1 cm, the sheet 15.7 × 14.1 cm—a size typical of Blake's small, intimate book formats.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)