Death of the Strong Wicked Man, from "The Grave," a Poem by Robert Blair (March 1, 1813)
Original title: Death of the Strong Wicked Man, from "The Grave," a Poem by Robert Blair
kurzbeschreibung
A muscular man lies dying on a bed, his trousers slipped down, while a female figure wrings her hands in despair at the right and a spectral form hovers above with raised arms. William Blake's 1813 engraving translates the scene 'Death of the Strong Wicked Man' from Robert Blair's poem 'The Grave'.
Description
On the bed, the dying muscular man sprawls, his trousers slipped down; an overturned cup lies nearby, and a candle stands on the floor. At the right edge, a female figure wrings her hands in despair, while above the sufferer a ghostly shape floats with arms lifted. A mountain landscape closes the view at the back.
Context
Blake made this engraving in 1813 as an illustration to Robert Blair's poem 'The Grave', written in 1743. Copper engraving was a common means for book illustration in the early nineteenth century, and Blake produced a whole series of such plates for a new edition of the poem.
Impact
The monochrome printing and subdued light create a gloomy, solemn atmosphere. The dynamic arrangement draws the eye to the interplay of the figures and heightens the drama of the death.
Technique
This piece is a copper engraving: lines are incised into a copper plate and then printed. Detailed linework and clear contours distinguish Blake's graphic work.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)