The Circle of Corrupt Officials: The Devils Mauling Each Other
Original title: The Circle of Corrupt Officials: The Devils Mauling Each Other
kurzbeschreibung
Two winged devils clash in churning water — William Blake's engraving 'The Circle of Corrupt Officials: The Devils Mauling Each Other' (c. 1825–27) envisions the punishment of venal officeholders. The print belongs to Blake's illustrations for Dante's Divine Comedy and shows the fifth division of the eighth circle of Hell.
Description
Amid a turbulent expanse of water, two winged figures attack each other; their distorted faces signal violent emotional agitation. On platforms behind them, other, less finished figures stand and watch the struggle. The layout feels dynamic, driven by strong wavelike lines and the combatants' movements. Monochrome rendering uses shading and contrast to bring out light and depth.
Context
The illustrations for Dante's Divine Comedy were made in Blake's final years at the suggestion of the artist John Linnell. This engraving belongs to that series, which remained unfinished. The subject follows Dante's account of the eighth circle, where corrupt officials are tormented in boiling pitch. Blake's interpretation ties the literary source to his own symbolic imagery, which often carried social and moral criticism.
Impact
The distorted faces and the agitated water surface create an intense, almost threatening mood. By setting the central act of violence against the passive figures behind it, the impression of chaos and moral decay is heightened. Blake's detailed linework gives the sheet an expressive force that is at once realistic and symbolic.
Technique
For this engraving, the drawing was etched into a metal plate and then printed on paper. The process allows fine lines and subtle shading, visible in the waves and figures. Blake used precise stroke work to convey both the texture of the water and the emotions of the figures.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)